417.765  Qualifications of members; terms
417.775  Purpose and duties of local commission; local coordinated comprehensive plan; community plan
417.790  Grants for services and initiatives, Great Start and juvenile services

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417.765 Qualifications of members; terms.
      (1) A majority of a local commission on children and families, including the chairperson, shall be laypersons as defined in ORS 417.730 (6)(b). Appointments to the local commission shall reflect the county’s or counties’ diverse populations and shall reflect expertise along the full spectrum of developmental stages of a child, from the prenatal stage through 18 years of age. Members shall include persons who have knowledge of the issues relating to children and families in the affected communities, including education, municipal government and the court system.

      (2) Members of the local commission shall be appointed to four-year terms. The appointing board or boards of county commissioners may appoint a member for additional terms or may limit the number of terms that a member may serve. [1993 c.676 §13; 1999 c.528 §1; 1999 c.1053 §12]

 417.775 Purpose and duties of local commission; local coordinated comprehensive plan; community plan.
      (1) Under the direction of the board or boards of county commissioners, and in conjunction with the guidelines set by the State Commission on Children and Families, the main purposes of a local commission on children and families are to promote wellness for children of all ages and their families in the county or region, if the families have given their express written consent, to mobilize communities and to develop policy and oversee the implementation of a local coordinated comprehensive plan described in this section. A local commission shall:

      (a) Inform and involve citizens;

      (b) Identify and map the range of resources in the               community;

      (c) Plan, advocate and fund research-based initiatives for children who are 0 through 18 years of age and their families;

      (d) Develop local policies, priorities, outcomes and targets;

      (e) Prioritize activities identified in the local plan and mobilize the community to take action;

      (f) Prioritize the use of non-dedicated resources;

      (g) Monitor implementation of the local plan; and

      (h) Monitor and evaluate the intermediate outcome targets identified in the local plan that are reviewed under ORS 417.797, and report on the progress in addressing priorities and achieving outcomes.

      (2) (a) A local commission may not provide direct services for children and their families.

      (b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this subsection, a local commission may provide direct services for children and their families for a period not to exceed six months if:

          (A) (i) The local commission determines that there is an   emergency;

          (ii) A provider of services discontinues providing the services in the county or region; or

          (iii) No provider is able to offer the services in the county or region; and

         (B) The family has given its express written consent.

      (3) The local commission shall lead and coordinate a process to assess needs, strengths, goals, priorities and strategies, and identify county or regional outcomes to be achieved. The process shall be in conjunction with other coordinating bodies for services for children and their families and shall include representatives of education, mental health services, developmental disability services, alcohol and drug treatment programs, public health programs, local child care resource and referral agencies, child care providers, law enforcement and corrections agencies, private nonprofit entities, local governments, faith-based organizations, businesses, families, youth and the local community. The process shall include populations representing the diversity of the county or region.

417.790 Grants for services and initiatives, Great Start and juvenile services.
The State Commission on Children and Families shall:
     (1) Make grants to local commissions on children and families to fund research-based services and initiatives to improve outcomes for children, youth or families. The state commission shall assist counties in the implementation of community services that are efficient, accountable, coordinated and readily available. Grants for services and initiatives to support children, youth or families shall be used at the local level according to the county’s local coordinated comprehensive plan. These services shall be provided in accordance with ORS 417.715 and 417.720.
     (2) Make Great Start grants to local commissions on children and families to fund community-based programs for children who are newborn through eight years of age. A county or region shall use Great Start grant funds to provide research-based early childhood programs in community settings and to provide services that have proven to be successful and that meet the needs of the community as described in the county’s local coordinated comprehensive plan. These services shall be provided in accordance with ORS 417.728. [1993 c.676 §31; 2001 c.976 §1]