65H-1.014. Services

To be eligible for certification, a domestic violence center shall provide the minimum services as set forth below and in Section 39.905, F.S. Providers may provide additional services beyond the minimum requirements. For services provided, the center must make specific efforts to address the needs of underserved populations within the center’s service area, including populations that are underserved because of disabilities, ethnicity, gender, race, language, or geographic isolation.

(1) Information and Referral. Education and recommendations on services to those persons seeking assistance. The provider shall maintain a comprehensive and current database of information and referral resources, which shall be made available for use by all direct service staff.

(2) Counseling. Supportive activities with victims of domestic violence.

(a) Counseling services shall incorporate supportive advocacy services such as crisis intervention, safety planning, assessment of risk, and intervening with the various social and legal agencies on behalf of the center participant, including legal advocacy, medical advocacy, housing advocacy, interpretation services, and additional services as needed.

(b) Counseling services may be based on the peer-counseling model. Individuals who need mental health counseling services may be served through referral to an outside provider.

(3) Case Management. A collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation, and advocacy for options and services to meet a center participant’s needs.

(a) The provider shall provide one-on-one case management to participants who reside in shelter for 72 hours or more, and to non-resident participants upon two sessions with an advocate. This provision does not preclude providers from providing case management to residents housed less than 72 hours or to non-resident participants who have received less than two sessions with an advocate.

(b) Individual case records shall be maintained, shall be current, and shall include at a minimum:

1. Identification data including name, age, ethnicity, and other relevant information for the participant and any dependents; and

2. A case management plan that includes safety planning and service referrals.

(c) The provider shall develop procedures and maintain documentation for case management staffings. Case management staffings shall be held bi-weekly for the purposes of ensuring effective communication among staff about the progress of participants toward meeting their goals and objectives, as well as addressing individual participant issues.

(d) In order to ensure the safety of participants and their dependents the provider shall protect the confidentiality and privacy of persons receiving services. Center staff shall not disclose any personally identifiable information collected in connection with services or reveal individual participant information without the informed, written, time-limited consent of the participant, except in limited circumstances described in the Section 39.908, F.S.

(4) Emergency Shelter. Safe housing provided for adult victims of domestic violence and their dependents. The provider shall provide temporary emergency shelter to victims and their dependants for more than 24 hours. Shelters shall be staffed by domestic violence advocates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.

(5) Hotline Services. A telephone operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide crisis intervention, safety planning, information, and referral to victims of domestic violence or on behalf of a victim.

(a) The provider shall provide hotline services, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week staffed by domestic violence advocates who have successfully completed the 30 hours of domestic violence competency-based core training and are registered for privileged communications. The hotline telephone shall have a TTY/telephone relay service.

(b) The use of commercial telephone answering services or automated voice mail to cover the hotline are not permitted, except for the purpose of directing calls to a domestic violence advocate.

(6) Child Assessment: Evaluation of the basic needs of children served by the center and the referral of children to services if needed.

(a) Each child in emergency shelter for 72 hours or more shall be assessed for basic needs and given service recommendations by a domestic violence advocate with experience working with children. This provision does not preclude providers from providing an assessment of children housed less than 72 hours.

(b) Any person who knows, or has reasonable cause to suspect, that a child is abused or neglected shall report such knowledge or suspicion to the Department’s central abuse hotline as provided for in Section 39.201, F.S.

(7) Professional Training. Education on the dynamics of domestic violence provided to law enforcement personnel, other professionals, and paraprofessionals who have contact, as part of their work, with victims of domestic violence.

(8) Community Education. The efforts, activities, and presentations performed to increase public awareness about domestic violence and the availability of services for victims of domestic violence.

(a) The provider shall provide community education to promote awareness of the incidence, causes, and prevention strategies of domestic violence. Community education shall be presented both face-to-face and through the utilization of various media.

(b) Center employees shall participate in community task forces, interagency councils, and other organizational groups whose efforts are intended to improve services for victims of domestic violence.

(9) Exempted Services. The Department may exempt the 24-hour hotline, professional training, and community education requirement for centers where this requirement is already being met by another certified center in the same service area, pursuant to Section 39.905(1)(c), F.S.

Rulemaking Authority 39.903 FS. Law Implemented 39.905, 39.908 FS. History–New 11-30-09, Formerly 65H-1.001, 65H-1.003, Amended 2-5-15, 5-4-20.