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BACKGROUND By adoption of County Ordinance No. 97-17, an advisory board to the Indian River County Board of Commissioners was established and the name later amended to Children's Services Advisory Committee on January 19, 1999 (Ordinance No. 99-01.) The advisory committee is charged with: (a) inventorying current child welfare services, (b) conducting a needs assessment for required children's services, (c) recommending a plan for providing additional needed child welfare services, and (d) submitting recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on matters affecting the welfare of children in Indian River County. ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND SUBCOMMITTEES CSAC is organized in accordance with Florida Statute 125.901 for the purpose of providing preventive, developmental, treatment, and rehabilitative services for children. The advisory committee is comprised of thirteen (13) members: seven (7) appointed by the Board of County Commissioners and six (6) ex -officio members. Ex -officio committee members include a County Commissioner (non-voting), the Superintendent of Schools, a representative of law enforcement, a County Judge, the Administrator of the Department of Health, and a representative of the Department of Children and Families. Appointed committee members serve as representatives from the community. The two standing subcommittees are the needs assessment and grant review subcommittees and are chaired by an advisory committee member. All committee and subcommittee members serve without compensation. ACCOUNTABILITY CSAC is accountable to and functions under the direction of the Indian River County Board of Commissions, through the Department of Human Services, with the intent of maximizing local revenues, developing resources, and ensuring fiscal and programmatic accountability of programs. The advisory committee is authorized to seek grants from state and federal agencies and accept donations from public and private sources, further allowing the best use of taxpayer dollars while serving the greatest number of children simultaneously. COLLABORATION The role of the advisory committee is to advocate for children of Indian River County by increasing quality resources within the community without duplication of services. This is accomplished by a variety of strategies which involve collaborating with other agencies and children service providers. It is the policy of the Indian River County Board of Commissioners to work in a cooperative venture with (but not limited to) such entities as the United Way, for profit and not-for-profit organizations, municipalities within Indian River County, the Indian River County School District and all public agencies. In this way, CSAC serves Indian River County by providing, or continuing to provide, both effective and improved children services. 89