(a) A county may, upon the affirmative vote of the board of supervisors, elect to contract with a contracting agency for services which provide counseling and referral and resource information services that conform to the purposes listed in Section 17500.

(b) The services provided under contract may include:

(1) Telephone crisis counseling.

(2) Development and publication of resource guides.

(3) Direct supportive counseling.

(c) The services provided under contract may not include direct financial assistance to clients.

(d) The direct services provided under contract shall be delivered at or near the local Employment Development Department offices or other related public service sites.

(e) The contractor shall be encouraged to use volunteer resources in service delivery to the maximum extent possible.

(Added by Stats. 1988, Ch. 90, Sec. 1.)