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Champaign County Birth to 5 Council

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Bylaws of Champaign County Birth to 5 Council of Families and Agencies

ARTICLE 1: NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Champaign County Birth to 5 Council of Families and Agencies, a.k.a. Birth to 5 Council.

ARTICLE II : MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Birth to 5 Council is to ensure young children with special needs and their families receive a coordinated and comprehensive family-centered system of support in Champaign County.

RTICLE III: VISION STATEMENT

The Birth to 5 Council recognizes the role of the family as the primary influence in promoting a child's development.

The Birth to 5 Council envisions families, independent providers, agencies, and concerned community members working together to:

  • Identify children age birth to 5 with special needs
  • Ensure access to services
  • Raise public awareness
  • Advocate for families with special needs children
  • Recruit competent providers
  • Promote interagency collaboration
  • Support local efforts to provide family-centered services

This continued collaborative effort is essential to the success of the local system in terms of service facilitation and delivery, family support and advocacy, system planning and funding.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I: The Birth to 5 Council will strive to have membership that includes parent/family members, independent providers, agency/program representatives, and concerned community members residing in and/or serving in Champaign County.

SECTION II: It is the goal of the Birth to 5 Council to have parent and/or family representation in the membership, and at least one parent representative with a child receiving birth to five intervention services. The Birth to 5 Council budget will provide for a limited number of stipends so those parent members may attend council and committee meetings.

SECTION III: All members shall have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on file with the Birth to 5 Council. The members shall update the MOU annually and be collected by the LIC Coordinator.

SECTION IV: All members may serve on a committee of their choice.

SECTION V: The Birth to 5 Council has an open enrollment policy. New members may enroll by completing an MOU.

ARTICLE V: SUPPORT STAFF & COUNCIL OFFICERS

SECTION I: The support staff of the Birth to 5 Council shall include a Local Interagency Council (LIC) Coordinator.

SECTION II: The volunteer Council Co-Chairs shall be elected by the council members and serve for a term of one year. At least one of the Co-Chairs shall be a parent. The Council Co-Chairs, in conjunction with the LIC Coordinator, shall be in charge of setting an agenda for the Birth to 5 Council meetings with input from the Executive Committee and for chairing each meeting using Robert's Rules of Order (each Facilitator and the LIC Coordinator shall have a copy), appointing members to standing or ad hoc committees, and other duties as assigned by the Birth to 5 Council.

SECTION III: Election of Officers shall take place at the first meeting of the new fiscal year. An ad hoc nominating committee shall be appointed at the last meeting of the fiscal year and present its slate for action at the first meeting of the new fiscal year. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the membership.

ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES

SECTION I: The Following are the standing committees of the Birth to 5 Council. Each committee will have a chairperson responsible for overseeing committee meetings, keeping minutes of said meetings, and reporting said minutes within one week of meeting to the LIC Coordinator.EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: The purpose of the Executive Committee will be to organize the Birth to 5 Council meetings (agenda, minutes, etc.) perform budget and other administrative duties, e.g. Annual Plan, and conduct membership recruitment. Action taken by the Executive Committee must be ratified by the Birth to 5 Council membership. The Committee shall comprise of the two Co-Chairs and Committee Chairs with the LIC Coordinator serving as an ex officio member.

PUBLIC AWARENESS COMMITTEE: The purpose of the Public Awareness Committee will be to coordinate public awareness activities to provide information concerning the birth to five-service system.

CHILD FIND AND TRANSITION COMMITTEE: The purpose of the Child Find and Transition Committee will be to coordinate efforts in order to identify children in Champaign County who may be in need of birth to five services and to annually examine, recommend and implement the Interagency Transition Agreement. Committee members shall be responsible for reporting child find numbers to the LIC Coordinator by the last day of each month. The committee will comprise of local school districts, Early Intervention providers and all agencies providing screenings. The Child and Family Connections Service Coordinator (representative) shall serve as an ex officio member.

PROVIDER RECRUITMENT: The purpose of this committee shall be to encourage enrollment of Early Intervention providers in the Champaign County service area.

SECTION II: AD HOC COMMITTEES: their purpose will be developed as needed by the Birth to 5 Council.

SECTION III: Each committee shall attempt to include at least one parent representative.

SECTION IV: The LIC Coordinator will be available to advise and assist committees at the request of the committee chairperson.

SECTION V: Committee meeting dates will be determined by each respective committee.

ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS

SECTION I: A minimum of five Birth to 5 Council meetings shall be held throughout the year.

SECTION II: Guests and volunteers are welcome to attend Birth to 5 Council and committee meetings.

SECTION III: Robert’s Rules of Order shall be followed in deliberations of the Birth to 5 Council unless otherwise precluded by these bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII: FISCAL YEAR

The Fiscal Year of the Birth to 5 Council shall be July 1 through June 30.

ARTICLE IX: ANNUAL PLAN

As mandated by the Early Intervention Service System Act P.A. 87-860, there shall be an annual plan developed each year and the plan shall be reviewed and voted on by the Birth to 5 Council membership. The plan shall be consistent with the state effort. The plan shall be implemented by the LIC Coordinator, the committees, and the membership.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS AND REVIEW

SECTION I: These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote at any scheduled Birth to 5 Council meeting, provided a quorum of the membership is present. In order to achieve a quorum, at least one parent member must be present plus a simple majority of council membership. Amendment proposals shall be listed on the agenda as an item for discussion and marked for action.

SECTION II: The bylaws of the Birth to 5 Council shall be reviewed annually to ascertain compliance with current regulations and appropriateness to the needs of young children with special needs and their families.

Adopted 6/24/04

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