(1) Out of moneys appropriated to the state department for family reconciliation services, the state department may elect to contract directly with private nonprofit organizations or entities for the provision of family intervention reconciliation services or pass the moneys to a county department electing to provide such services. In such circumstances, the county department may provide the family intervention reconciliation services directly or the county department may contract with private nonprofit organizations or entities for the provision of such services. The county may also contract with private nonprofit organizations or entities for the provision of voluntary alternative residences pursuant to sections 26-5.7-107 and 26-5.7-108.
Any county department may elect to establish a program to provide services consistent with this article. If a county department so elects, it shall notify the state department of such action, and any homeless youth or any member of a family that is in conflict or is experiencing problems with a homeless youth may request family reconciliation services from the county department. Such services may be provided to alleviate personal or family situations that present a serious and imminent threat to the health, safety, or welfare of the youth or family and to maintain intact families wherever possible. Services shall be provided at the discretion of the county department, within the county department's available resources.
Family reconciliation services that may be established shall be designed to developskills and support within families to resolve problems related to homeless youth or family conflicts and may include, but are not limited to, referral services for suicide prevention, family preservation services, psychiatric or other medical care, or psychological, welfare, legal, educational, mediation, or other social services such as temporary shelter or independent living, as appropriate to the needs of the youth and the family. County departments that elect to provide family educational reconciliation services shall work in cooperation with school district boards of education providing educational services to homeless children in order to jointly develop educational programs for homeless youth consistent with section 22-33-103.5, C.R.S.
Source: L. 97: Entire article added, p. 977, § 2, effective May 22.