BYLAWS OF THE SIERRA HEALTH COUNCIL
COMMUNITY UNITED FOR QUALITY LIVING / UNIDOS PARA SALUD
ARTICLE I - Name
The name of the Comprehensive Community Health Council shall be “Community United for Quality Living / Unidos Para Salud” (CUQL/UPS).
ARTICLE II – Location
The office location of CUQL/UPS is 360 W. 4th Street, Room # 116, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.
ARTICLE III – Mission and Vision
The mission of CUQL/UPS is to contribute to the quality of life by promoting the health and wellness of all people in Sierra County regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities or religious beliefs.
ARTICLE IV – Purpose
The purpose of the CUQL/UPS is to create opportunities for collaboration between community organizations, individuals and the New Mexico Department of Health to work on community health priorities and concerns.
ARTICLE V – Definition of Health
According to members of CUQL/UPS, health is the highest quality of life that can be experienced mentally, physically and spiritually, in all aspects of living that creates freedom from disease and illness.
ARTICLE VI – Structure and Function of the Health Council
Section 1: Health Council Coordinator:
The Health Council Coordinator (HCC) is responsible for the overall development and maintenance of the CUQL/UPS. The HCC coordinates the community assessment process by maintaining and updating the Community Health Profile and Plan (CHPP) and heading community action strategies and activities related to the priorities identified by the CUQL/UPS . The HCC coordinates the ongoing systems evaluation related to the CHPP priorities. The coordinator also researches funding opportunities for those represented on the CUQL/UPS and assists in the writing of grant proposals.
Section 2: The Maternal Child Health Coordinator of Direct Services:
The MCH Coordinator of Direct Services is responsible for maintaining direct services such as prenatal care management, car seat safety education, teen pregnancy prevention and education, Medicaid On Site Application Assistance (MOSSA), and education and outreach to improve the health of new mothers and their children. The MCH Coordinator of Direct Services is responsible for collaborating with other community health care organizations to ensure that these direct services continue to be provided in Sierra County.
Section 3: Membership:
Membership in the CUQL/UPS is open to anyone in the community who is interested in promoting the health and wellness of Sierra County and will represent the geographic areas and ethnic populations within the county. Also, membership will be drawn from representatives of agencies and organizations in Sierra County involved with and interested in improving the health of the residents of Sierra County.
3.1 Community membership
Individuals from the community who wish to become voting members of the Council shall attend at least two consecutive meetings and, after filling out an application for membership, shall be presented to the council to be nominated and voted in as a member of the council. Voting members will be expected to attend at least two meetings a year; if no meetings are attended for a full year, their membership shall cease after being notified by letter of their impending removal at the next council meeting. A member may resign from the council at any time by giving written notice to and subsequent approval from the Council.
3.2 Organization/Agency Membership
An organization or agency may become a member of the council by submitting a Memorandum of Understanding to the Council requesting membership in the Council. One or more individuals from the organization or agency may attend the meetings; however, only one vote may be cast for the organization or agency on any given ballot or vote. If no representative from the organization or agency attends any Council meeting for one year, the same procedure to remove the membership will be followed as for a community member.
3.3 Membership Continuation
Membership shall continue until resignation or removal. Members may be removed for good cause by a two-thirds vote of the membership after being given notice and a hearing before the membership.
3.4 Duties and Responsibilities
Members are expected to:
• attend meetings on a regular basis
• provide information about the health and wellness of county residents in their sphere of influence
• participate in the updating of community assessments and behavioral health needs
• contribute data, knowledge and expertise as needed.
3.5 Grandfathered members
Individuals and organizations/agencies considered to be a member at the time of the adoption of these by-laws will be grandfathered into the council membership with no further application needed.
Section 4: Meetings:
The CUQL/UPS meets monthly. In the absence of a full council meeting, the Core Leadership Team will meet and conduct necessary business.
Section 5: Core Leadership Team Definition:
The Core Leadership Team is composed of the health council officers including the coordinator, chair, co-chair, and no more than five volunteers approved by the CUQL/UPS. The Core Leadership Team is responsible for (1) making interim decisions or taking actions between council meetings- usually to be approved at the next regularly scheduled council meeting, (2) providing support as needed to the health council chair and or the coordinator, (3) helping sustain the mission, vision and goals of the health council, through such tasks as : member recruitment, helping draft policies and procedures, reviewing documents, and participating on a regular basis at this level of council development and function.
Section 6: Annual Meeting:
The annual meeting of CUQL/UPS will be held during the 3rd Quarter of each year. The annual meeting will be publicly advertised and open to the community.
Section 7: Quorum:
A quorum at any duly called meeting shall consist of the voting members present at the meeting. If a quorum is not present the officers may decide to postpone the decision making for another meeting or refer it to the Core Leadership Team for action.
Section 8: Voting:
The approval of a majority of the members present at a CUQL/UPS meeting at which a quorum is present is needed to pass all motions, with the exception of Amendments to these Articles, per Article VIII below. Every member of the CUQL/UPS is entitled to one vote except for HC contracted employees, and must be present at the meeting where a vote is required.
Section 9: Officers and Duties:
The officers of CUQL/UPS will be a Chairperson, a co-chairperson and a scribe.
The Chair shall be elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting by secret ballot and will preside or arrange for the coordinator to preside at each meeting.
The Co-Chair shall be elected in the same manner as the Chair and will assist in
chairing a meeting or act in the place of the Chair in the Chair’s absence.
The Scribe shall be elected in the same manner as the Chair and will be
responsible for keeping records of CUQL/UPS actions, including overseeing
taking of minutes at all full Health Council meetings.
Section 10: Election of Officers. Nomination for officers will be requested from the CUQL/UPS membership one month before the Annual Meeting and submitted to the HCC who will notify those persons nominated, asking if they would be interested and willing to serve. A secret ballot will be held at the Annual Meeting to elect officers from those people who agree to be nominated.
ARTICLE VII– Focus Groups
The CUQL/UPS will develop and support focus groups on the community priorities chosen by them. Facilitation of these focus groups will be done within the current Systems Approach structure offered by the New Mexico Department of Health and supported by a Systems Approach coach when necessary.
ARTICLE VIII – Amendment to Articles
These articles may be altered, amended or repealed in whole or in part as long as there is a two-thirds vote by Health Council members, once in a fiscal year, as long as written notice of any proposed changes to the Articles has been given to the Health Council members at least 14 days before the meeting.
Revised 10/21/2008
