Community Resource Database

Inclusion/Exclusion Policy

The following policy applies to the Lafayette Crisis Center Community Resource Database. This policy is intended as a general guide and may be changed by Lafayette Crisis Center as needed.

Disclaimer

The database is intended only as a listing of the many services that are available to residents of Tippecanoe and the surrounding counties. Information collected by Lafayette Crisis Center is voluntary by the organizations that are listed. Staff of the Lafayette Crisis Center reserves the right to edit information to meet format, guideline and space requirements. Staff does not evaluate the programs and services.

Inclusion of a program or service in the database does not in any way represent or imply a determination or approval of the quality of those services. Exclusion does not reflect on any organizations contribution to the community.

Lafayette Crisis Center neither guarantees nor makes any representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained in the database. Lafayette Crisis Center disclaims any and all responsibility and liability that may be asserted or claimed resulting from or arising out of reliance upon the information and procedures presented in the database.

Inclusion in the database, community service directory, directory on disk and community kiosk is free.

INFORMATION THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE

Lafayette Crisis Center, in its sole discretion, may exclude an organization regardless of the services offered by such organization. Generally, priority for inclusion is given to programs and services that:

	Directly serve the public at-large and that are offered by non-profit human services organizations.
	Government agencies (federal, state, county, city) that provide services in the areas of health, welfare, recreation, or education. No attempt will be made to list all government agencies or departments.
	Organizations (such as churches, social clubs) that offer a service to the community at large, not just their own members.
	Self-help support groups with at least six months of activity.
	Elected representatives (federal, state, county, city)
	Hospitals
	Organizations outside our geographic area. 800 lines that offer a social or community service available to local residents.
	Professional organizations, especially those in the social service field.
	Advocacy groups and community councils.
	Respond to needs that are unmet (either service is not available or demand substantially exceeds supply) by the non-profit sector, offered by a for-profit organization.
	Resources not adequately catalogued in other community databases.

CONTROVERSIAL ACTIVITIES

Some organizations provide services or advocate on issues which maybe controversial in nature. Information about an organizations policies, views, or issues which assist will potential consumers in selecting a resources should be included in that agency’s record in the database. Examples of this type of information include religious observances, which are required in order to obtain services or the organization’s points of view on issues. Whenever possible, the resource file should include organizations which represent a variety of points of view on any given issue in order to provide callers with a choice of options.

OTHER INFORMATION THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE DATABASE

Categories of “how-to” information that guide people through the process of obtaining services or giving effective referrals.

INFORMATION THAT IS EXCLUDED FROM THE DATABASE

In addition to not meeting the inclusion criteria, reasons that an organization would be excluded are as follows:

	For profit entrepreneurial or commercial organization.
	Be involved in providing illegal services, or be found to be discrimination against client or in employment practices on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or disability.
	State or local laws, ordinance or derived regulations (codes of regulations or administrative codes) requires a license or permit to provide the service and the agency/service provider does not have one.

Lafayette Crisis Center reserves the right to refuse or discontinue listings for organizations, which are under investigation for any type of wrongdoing. Organizations will be “suspended” from use by means of removing keywords and taxonomy references. In the event they are cleared of suspicion, they will be reinstated by having keywords and taxonomy references restored. If they are found to be guilty of wrongdoing, the agency and program listing will be removed from the database.

APPEAL PROCESS

An organization may appeal an exclusion decision by submitting a written statement to the Lafayette Crisis Center, 1244 N. 15th St., Lafayette, IN 47904. The written statement should include a justification referencing the Inclusion/Exclusion Policy of the Lafayette Crisis Center, be dated, include the name, address, telephone numbers and signature of the appealing organization.

The Lafayette Crisis Center Information & Referral Specialist and Executive Director will review the appeal and make a decision. The appealing organization will be informed of the decision within 30 days/weeks.

If the appealing organization wishes to continue the appeal, they must notify the Lafayette Crisis Center Executive Director in writing within 30 days. The director will review this appeal with the Planning/Budget Committee of the Board of Directors and notify the appealing organization within 90 days of their decision.

Approved by Crisis Center Town Hall - May 6, 2003

Approved by Crisis Center Board of Directors - May 29, 2003