The Lane County Network of Care Inclusion/Exclusion Policy

This policy document provides the criteria for being included in the database of TheLane non-profit comprehensive information and referral provider serving Lane County. It shall also be used as the criteria for being included in the database for the Lane County Network of Care web site.

It is the purpose of TheLane and the Lane County Network of Care web sites to provide information about a broad range of human service agencies including both non-profit and for-profit. Inclusion in the database does not constitute an endorsement of, or liability for any agency, program or service. The database will contain information about service providers that enhance the quality of individual and community life. Data included in the database will be used to assist viewers of the TheLane and the Lane County Network of Care website by connecting them to appropriate resources.

Inclusion Guidelines:

Overall inclusion emphasis will be placed on agencies, programs and services whose services are directed toward the solution of human service problems. All agencies or providers must meet licensing standards if operating in a service field where such standards are known to exist. Where licensing standards do not exist, an agency must operate in a manner consistent with the implied standards of their field of service.

Inclusion preference will be extended to non-profits in all human resource areas. If a demonstrated need is not being met sufficiently by the non-profit sector, a for-profit may be included. Preference will be given to those for-profit service providers who offer a sliding-scale fee and/or perform pro-bono services. Any for-profit listed must have as its primary goal the resolution of a human service need and operate in accordance with the regulatory guidelines applicable to its field. Listing preference will be given to those for-profits registered with a regulatory organization, such as the Better Business Bureau.

Consumer protection and basic business services that are either government designated or contracted will be included.

General inclusion requirements will be as follows:

• Organization must show evidence of an established service site.
• Organization must have demonstrated provision of service.
• Organization must have accessible program hours or an answering machine announcing current hours of availability.

Certain exceptions to the inclusion requirements may be made in the case of support groups or seasonal programs. Exceptions may also be made for health care providers who offer no cost, sliding scale fee, or OHP/Open Card services. Organizations may be placed on a six month probationary inclusion if they have not provided continuous services for the last six months.

Where there are existent central clearinghouses or resource-specific information and referral providers, e.g., child care referral agencies, these referral resources will be given inclusion and referral preference over any specific resources addressing the same need.

Exclusion Guidelines:

Trade associations of any type will be excluded. Individual practitioners will be excluded with the exception of heads of governments, such as mayors or governors, and health care providers serving the low-income population as noted previously. TheLane's and the Lane County Network of Care reserves the right to exclude any agency at its discretion. Those exluced are reviewed by TheLane's I&R Data Committee, which includes the Lane County Network of Care Manager; example: organizations under pending litigation.

Organizations will be excluded under the following circumstances:

• For-profit businesses that do not otherwise fit the above stated inclusion guidelines
• Private practitioners that do not otherwise fit the above stated inclusion guidelines
• Organization denies service to any inquirer on the basis of prejudice
• Organization purposefully misrepresents its mission or engages in illegal fundraising or operating practices
• Organization fails to respond to update requests
• Organization has an unresolved, documented complaint on file with TheLane or the Lane County Network of Care
• Organization proselytizes as condition for service
• Organizations providing services solely to their membership
• Organizations providing free or low cost services whose primary purpose is to market their main for-profit business

Inclusion Procedure:

To be included in the database, the following procedures will be followed:

Agencies will complete the Agency and Program Information Forms and attach additional information as applicable.

Prior to acceptance, completed Agency and Program Information Forms will be reviewed by TheLane I&R Data Committee, which includes the Lane County Network of Care Manager; for accuracy and completeness. Following review and acceptance the agency and programs will be added to the database. Some information from the Agency and Program Information Forms may be altered slightly to conform to the TheLane and the Lane County Network of Care Style Guidelines

Staff of TheLane and the Lane County Network of Care may solicit agencies to be added to the database, or agencies may request consideration for inclusion.

This Inclusion/Exclusion Policy shall be reviewed annually in August by the TheLane I&R Data Committee, which includes the Lane County Network of Care Manager, to ensure that it continues to meet the changing needs of the community.

TheLane and The Lane County Network of Care accepts no liability for the incorrect usage of the data by its subscribers. They will, however, make every effort to train users and provide technical assistance whenever necessary.