§ 9-33-205 - Department of Health--Powers and duties.
9-33-205. Department of Health--Powers and duties.
(a) The Department of Health shall be the agency designated to serve as the administrative and fiscal agent for the Common Ground Program.
(b) Funds appropriated for the Common Ground Program may only be used for activities in support of the Common Ground Program that comply with the stated legislative purpose as contained in this chapter.
(c) The department shall have the following authority and responsibilities in acting as fiscal agent for the Common Ground Program:
(1) To disburse program grant funds to qualifying entities as directed by the Common Ground Program Committee;
(2) To submit applications on behalf of the committee for funds that may become available from public and private funding sources that would be used to implement the activities of the Common Ground Program; and
(3) To contract for fund-raising and fiscal investment and management services.
(d) The department shall carry out or contract for the following administrative functions for the Common Ground Program:
(1) The establishment of a Clearinghouse for Youth Crime Prevention Program in the Office of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention of the Department of Human Services, that shall, in collaboration with the Division of Chronic Disease and Disability Prevention of the Department of Health:
(A) Maintain a database that tracks successful youth crime and violence prevention programs in Arkansas and other states;
(B) Develop and implement procedures for the collection of information about youth crime and violence prevention programs in conjunction with the committee; and
(C) Develop and implement procedures for the dissemination of information about youth crime and violence prevention programs in conjunction with the committee;
(2) The development and administration of an outreach and grant program component, that shall:
(A) Conduct public education activities about the Common Ground Program, the committee, and the programs developed and implemented thereunder;
(B) Assist groups in developing grant applications by providing grantees, the committee and staff, and others with the information and skills necessary to successfully plan, develop, implement, and finance youth crime and violence prevention programs; and
(C) (i) In order to solicit the opinions and recommendations of citizens, youths, and public officials regarding strategies and programs to prevent youths from becoming influenced by and involved in youth crime and violence, conduct:
(a) Regional summits or public hearings at the discretion of the Common Ground Program; and
(b) Surveys.
(ii) Based on those opinions and recommendations, the outreach and grant program component shall submit a biennial report suggesting funding priorities to the committee for presentation to the Governor and the General Assembly;
(3) The development and administration of evaluation, assessment, and reporting components, that will evaluate grant recipients and collect information about other information about youth crime and violence prevention programs to enhance the success of the Common Ground Program;
(4) The provision of administrative support to the committee in performing its statutory duties; and
(5) The provision of peer review of the Common Ground Program grant applications.