Links Policy

Links Criteria

1. has been operating for a minimum of six months, employs at least one staff person, and has a published address and phone number. Special consideration may be given to private non-profit entities designed to administer federal or state funding
2. is located in or serves residents of Butler, Clermont, Clinton, Hamilton or Warren counties. Exceptions may include:
• organizations outside the service area that offer a service not otherwise available within the five-county region
• organizations located close to the border of the five-county region that geographically serve an individual's needs better or that are more cost effective than an agency or organization located within the region
3. is a service provider for the entire State of Ohio or the entire United States of America

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External Links

1. COA reserves the right to edit information to meet format, guideline, and space requirements.
2. COA neither evaluates nor assumes responsibility for the quality or accuracy of information or services provided through external links.
3. Any concerns or comments related to the content of sites accessed through external links should be directed to the author of that Web site. To report broken links from COA's Web site to an external Web site, send an e-mail to COA's Communications Department.
   
4. Use of any information obtained from external links is voluntary, and reliance on it should only be undertaken after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, efficacy, and timeliness.
5. COA reserves the right to refuse or discontinue links for organizations that have had any serious complaints lodged against them with any regulatory body or with COA.
6. COA's Links Policy does not prohibit the inclusion of organizations or programs that target services based on age, gender, health, disability, or other characteristic designed to meet special needs of targeted populations.
7. COA reserves the right to include or exclude any external link at its discretion, at any time.
8. Inclusion or exclusion of an external link does not constitute endorsement, disapproval or liability on the part of COA.

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Examples of external links that may be denied for COA's Web site

1. For-profit and/or fee-for-service organizations (particularly those headquartered outside Council on Aging's five-county service area) that offer a service that is the same or similar to programs and services already offered by or through Council on Aging of Southwestern Ohio or other non-profit/charitable organization already represented on the Web site.
2. Individual doctors, nurses, or other private practitioners (regardless of whether they accept Medicare or Medicaid assignments). As an exception, sole providers of particular services, especially in rural and or underserved areas, may be included at the discretion of COA.
3. Local service groups, unless direct services are offered to the community.
4. Churches, synagogues, mosques, or other religious organizations, unless they offer a service which is open to the community and helps meet the needs of the community at large.
5. Programs that do not serve seniors and their families, caregivers, people with disabilities or professionals in the field of aging.
6. Agencies that give information or provide public awareness that is solely for political or business purposes.

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