By Laws

The mission of the Children & Adolescent LAN 77 (hereafter referred to as C & A LAN 77 or LAN) is to strengthen families in order to enhance the spiritual, physical, economic and social health of the Englewood and West Englewood communities. Furthermore, the LAN's mission is to collaborate with providers and consumers for the purpose of developing a unified and comprehensive system of care for all children living in Service Area 77 who are part of an agreed upon targeted population, or at risk of entering the targeted population. The C A LAN will serve as an advocate for the needs of these children and adolescents. C & A LAN 77 will pursue resources as needed to accomplish its goals relevant to service system development and coordination.

Section 1	C & A Local Area Network (LAN) is a network of providers who reside in or render children and adolescent services in either community area, and consumers who reside in the community or receive services within the community, and stakeholders who have a vested interest in the community. The providers and consumers come together voluntarily to ensure a coordinated, effective and efficient network system of services to families and children excluded from the community or at risk of being excluded from the community l and emotional problems of children and adolescents.
Section 2	The Structure will consist of : (A) the Local Area Network (LAN) which is the general body composed of community stakeholders. Its members elect the governing body, the Steering Committee. (B) the Steering Committee which implements policy and monitors LAN approved activities and services; and (C) designated Standing Committees.
Section 3	The area of responsibility for the C & A LAN 77 are the Southwest Side communities of Chicago, Illinois.
Section 4	Goals of Network: 1) to provide a community forum for networking of services; 2) to provide a forum for interagency and consumer discussion and cooperation; 3) to improve services to youth and their families by insuring network coordination between involved agencies; and 4) to provide educational enhancement opportunities via in-services, workshops, etc.
Section 5	LAN 77 will support services that build on a family's strengths, that support community based care and focus on helping youth remain at home, in their community and local school.
Section 6	LAN 77 will support efforts to develop and coordinate a service area wide child and adolescent service delivery plan that coordinates services to meet the needs [i] of children excluded from the community or at risk of exclusion.

Section 1	The purpose of LAN 77 is to implement its mission, to develop annual goals and objectives for C & A LAN 77; and to advise and assist the governing body, the Steering Committee.
Section 2	C & A LAN 77 shall include, but is not limited to, parent-consumers and representatives from the following entities: Comprehensive Community Based Youth Services (CCBYS) agencies, Illinois Department of Mental Health and Development Disabilities (DMHDD) funded providers, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) funded providers, health providers, Community Youth Services Programs, Chicago Board of Education representative, DASA funded agencies, private funded child welfare providers' representatives, and representative of youth law enforcement entities. Any of the aforementioned must reside in or provide services in LAN 77 or provide services to persons who reside in LAN 77, or be stakeholders who have a vested interest in the community.
Section 3	Membership:
	3.01	To qualify for LAN membership a parent-consumer or organization must: meet at least one (1) composition requirement delineated in Article III, Section 2, attend at least two (2) general LAN meetings and serve on a Standing Committee for at least two (2) consecutive meetings.
	3.02	Membership in C & A LAN 77 may be accomplished by written request to the Membership Committee by a qualified parent-consumer or organization. If the request is from an organization, the request must be on the organization's official letterhead and signed by the organization's representative authorized to enter agreements on the organization's behave. If the request is from a resident, any written request is sufficient.
	3.03	The Membership Committee shall inform potential members of the LAN's membership requirements; disseminate membership applications packets; insure that all LAN required membership documents are corrected completed and returned ; and present the membership application to the next Steering Committee meeting following receipt of completed package.
	3.04	The Steering Committee shall review all membership applications to insure that the potential member meets all LAN membership requirements. The Steering Committee may implement measures to determine if an organization/agency has conducted business in a manner consistent with the LAN's mission statement.
	3.05	Those who request membership must be elected by a majority vote of LAN membership present at the meeting in which the membership application is presented. The membership application must be presented to the LAN within 45 days after submission to the Membership Committee. The Steering Committee has responsibility for submitting membership application to the LAN for vote. The LAN's decision is forwarded to the proposed member in writing by the Secretary of the LAN.
	3.06	Membership should be reflective of the cultural and ethnic diversity of the Southwest Side.
	3.07	More than one representative from an agency/organization may be a member of C & A LAN 77 However, each agency/organization representative must meet criteria for membership.
	3.08	In cases where an agency/organization has more than one member in the LAN, that agency /organization will receive one vote so as to avoid over-representation from a single agency. Every effort shall be made to diversify the membership by including representatives from numerous agencies.
	3.09	Meetings are open to the community. However, only members can vote,apply for funding initiatives of the LAN or be on a standing committee.
	3.09	By majority vote of the LAN membership can be terminate if it is determined that the member's business or personal conduct is in conflict with the mission of the LAN, is placing the LAN in jeopardy, or is detrimental to the community at large. The Steering Committee shall have the responsibility to determine if recommendation for membership termination is in order and presenting the recommendation with supporting information to the LAN. The Steering Committee may assign to the Membership Committee the authority to investigate issues related to determining if termination should be pursued.
	3.10	Any person or organization whose application is denied or membership revoked has a right to appeal that decision to the Steering Committee.
Section 4	Membership Responsibilities
	4.01	It is the responsibility of each member to become knowledgeable about local needs, services available and existing gap in services.
	4.02	To serve on a standing or ad-hoc committee.
	4.03	To attend general LAN meetings regularly.
	4.04	To maintain an interest in and participate on issues coming before the LAN.
	4.05	Organization members must commit to ongoing presence via sending qualified representative regardless if their initially selected representative is available to attend.
Section 5:	Code of Conduct All members of the LAN are expected to conduct his/her professional operations in a manner that is professional, respectful to the client population, and consistent with the LAN's Mission Statement. Any member found to be providing services or personally behaving in a manner injurious to consumers or their families; or guilty of other unethical practices shall be subject to member termination.
Section 6:	Confidentiality A LAN 77 is committed to protecting the confidentiality of records and communications for all persons who request or receive services from LAN monitored funds. The LAN shall follow all confidentiality regulations set forth by funders. The Steering Committee shall have responsibility to investigate and review any reported or suspected breech of client confidentiality by a member and recommend corrective action to the LAN. Breech of client confidentiality may result in membership termination.

No member of the LAN steering committee shall receive a direct or personal fee for service unless that member is part of an involved organization whose fiscal agreement is made and overseen by the LAN Steering Committee.

Materials generated by LAN 77 are the exclusive property of the LAN and cannot be used without the express written consent of the LAN 77 Steering Committee.