Inclusion / Exclusion Criteria Procedure

Community Resource Database

Date of Last Review: January, 2009

Purpose: The Southwest Michigan 2-1-1 Database is established for the purpose of providing current and comprehensive information on health and human services available to the residents of Allegan, Berrien, Cass and Van Buren Counties by phone or by the web and is updated not less than annually to address the changing needs of all groups in the community. The database includes information on a wide spectrum of services and target populations, which all share the purpose of providing opportunities for assistance, growth, support, rehabilitation, habilitation, or enrichment for citizens in meeting human needs. The database also includes information on volunteer opportunities.  The database is intended to support the following: 

• Telephone Information and Referral for citizens, groups, professionals, and organizations
• Community Planning or Research
• Specialized programs, projects, and committees in which Southwest Michigan 2-1-1 or the community may be involved
• Searchable resource database for community use at the Southwest Michigan 2-1-1 sponsored web site.

Organization Included

 Non-profit organizations: 

• Government offices/programs providing health and human services
• Agencies with 501 (c) (3) status.
• Agencies that provide health and human services to Allegan, Berrien, Cass and Van Buren County citizens
• Religious organizations offering health and human services to the greater community and not confined to their own membership or affiliates.
• Special service components of clubs, schools, or special interest groups providing health and human services
• Support and self-help groups
• Organizations outside of our geographic parameters, which provide a service for Allegan, Berrien, Cass and Van Buren County residents that are not available locally.
• 800 lines, if accessible to Allegan, Berrien, Cass and Van Buren County residents and that offer health and human service information or assistance  

For profit organizations: 

• Must provide a service not available in the non-profit sector or for needs that cannot be met in the non-profit sector
• Must be willing to accept Medicare and Medicaid where applicable
• Must provide services that include fees based upon ability to pay or must be able/willing to provide service on a payment arrangement basis 

Specialized Information & Referral Services: 

• Specialized I&R will be listed to assure that callers get the highest quality of information available for their need   

Fee for Inclusion: 

• There will be no fee charged for inclusion in the database. 

Organizations Excluded Or Removed

• For profit organizations which do not accept public insurances, do not have practices which can adjust fees based upon ability to pay, or do not provide a service which is accessible in the non-profit sector
• Non-profit agencies that do not provide a direct service or information about direct services
• Agencies and organizations that deny service on the basis of race, sexual orientation, religious belief, national origin or that violate any federal, state, or local laws and regulations
• Agencies and organizations where there is credible evidence that there is less than truthful or ethical practices demonstrated
• Agencies and organizations, which do not respond to attempts to update information annually
• Unlicensed agencies that operate in an industry where licensing standards exist
• Illegal services  

Organizations may be removed from the database in the following situations:                

• Following a prolonged period of unavailable services or agency functions               
• Where there is a legal question into the operations of the agency               
• Following complaints to regulatory bodies regarding the practices of the agency
• Following the annual review of the inclusion criteria and a decision by Southwest Michigan 2-1-1 that the agency no longer meets the revised criteria
• Following no response by the agency in repeated attempts at obtaining updated service information during Southwest Michigan 2-1-1 update mailings Note: Organizations that are being considered for exclusion will be notified and have an opportunity to resolve the reason for possible exclusion.  

Rights of Southwest Michigan 2-1-1  Place to Discontinue referrals: Southwest Michigan 2-1-1 reserves the right to discontinue referral service and/ or inclusion in database to any organization in the database based upon the Resource Specialist’s professional judgment of the agency’s appropriateness and the criteria stated above. In addition, inclusion of a particular organization in the database does not constitute an endorsement, nor does exclusion constitute disapproval of an organization by Southwest Michigan 2-1-1.