Collaborative Agreement

between

The Consortium for Child Welfare

Family Ties Project

and

<Collaborating agency>

PURPOSE

This document is an agreement of collaboration between the Consortium for Child Welfare's Family Ties Project and and outlines the roles and responsibilities of the agencies as collaborators in the Family Ties Project.

The Consortium for Child Welfare's Family Ties Project (FTP) is a federally and foundation-supported four year demonstration grant with the goals of: 1) decreasing the risk of abandonment of children affected by HIV/AIDS through the development and provision of comprehensive permanency planning services which are initiated early in the case management process; and 2) developing policy and systemic reform which supports the parents' choice in planning for their children's life plans.

The Family Ties Project provides services to families affected by HIV/AIDS. These services are delivered in accordance with project policies and procedures through sub-contractors and designated "collaborating case management agencies" serving families affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Family Ties Project agrees to:

• Provide training to case managers and other staff in the policies and procedures of the Family Ties Project, including client eligibility, enrollment, referral and termination.
• Provide access to sub-contract specialty services to enrolled clients through their case managers. These services include legal services, mental health services, kinship care case management services, client and staff training, client support groups, case manager support group, and multi-disciplinary and clinical consultations. These services will be provided to clients free of charge on an as available basis and will commence once case management staff are trained by the Family Ties Project.
• Provide access to case managers and other staff to specialized training and other support designed to increase the skill level of staff in providing permanency planning/life planning services to clients. These services will be provided to case managers and other identified staff free of charge on an as-available basis.
• Adhere to project policies regarding client eligibility, enrollment, referral and termination. The Family Ties Project or its subcontractors will not directly contact clients without the consent of the client.
• Adhere to Agency and Project policies concerning client confidentiality.

<Collaborating agency> agrees to:

• Serve and be designated as a Family Ties Project "Collaborating Case Management Agency."
• Enroll existing and future clients who meet Project eligibility criteria in the Family Ties Project in accordance with the Project's policies and procedures and attend scheduled multi-disciplinary follow-up meetings on enrolled families receiving case management services from .
• Continue to provide these clients with on-going case management services to clients enrolled in the Family Ties Project, including permanency planning activities which will assist enrolled families in developing and implementing "life plans".
• Provide referrals to and utilize Family Ties Project services in accordance with the Project's policies and procedures.
• Participate in Project evaluation activities and facilitate enrolled clients' and staffs' participation in Project evaluation in accordance with Project policies and procedures.
• Adhere to Agency and Project policies concerning client confidentiality.

TERM OF AGREEMENT, TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

This agreement shall become effective upon signature of a representative from and will remain in force until the end of the Project period, September 29, 2004. This agreement will be reviewed by both parties annually. This agreement may be terminated at any time by either party with thirty day's notice. This agreement may be amended at any time through written amendment signed by representatives of both parties.

Neither party will pay any money to the other party under this Agreement. Each party will provide services and fulfill its obligation under this Agreement without payment and the expectation of payment. This does not preclude the parties from entering into other agreements that would include payment for services.

For Consortium for Child Welfare

Jeffrey A. Menzer, RN, ACRN

Project Director, Family Ties Project

Date

For <Collaborating agency>

Signature

Name/Title

Date

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