41-3-1103. Powers and duties of department. (1) The department shall:
     (a) administer all state and federal funds allocated to the department for youth foster homes, youth group homes, and child-care agencies for youth in need of care, as defined in 41-5-103;
     (b) exercise licensing authority over all youth foster homes, youth group homes, and child-care agencies;
     (c) collect and disseminate information relating to youth in need of care;
     (d) provide for training of program personnel delivering services;
     (e) in cooperation with youth care facility providers, develop and implement standards for youth care facilities;
     (f) maintain adequate data on placements it funds in order to keep the legislature properly informed of the following:
     (i) the number of youth in need of care in out-of-home care facilities;
     (ii) the cost per facility for services rendered;
     (iii) the type and level of care of services provided by each facility;
     (iv) a profile of out-of-home care placements by level of care; and
     (v) a profile of public institutional placements; and
     (g) administer all funds allocated to the department for residential alcohol and drug abuse treatment for indigent youths in need of care, indigent youths in need of supervision, and indigent delinquent youths who require treatment.
     (2) The department may:
     (a) enter into contracts with nonprofit corporations or associations or private organizations to provide substitute care for youth in need of care in youth care facilities;
     (b) accept gifts, grants, and donations of money and property from public and private sources to initiate and maintain community-based services to youth;
     (c) adopt rules to carry out the administration and purposes of this part.
     (3) The department shall pay for room, board, clothing, personal needs, transportation, and treatment in youth foster care homes and youth group homes for youths committed to the department who need to be placed in the facilities. Payments for the clothing of a child placed in a youth foster home must be provided to the extent the child needs a basic wardrobe or has a special clothing need. Payments under this subsection may not exceed appropriations for the purposes of this subsection.

     History: En. Secs. 8, 17, Ch. 465, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 15, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 177, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 531, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 47, Ch. 609, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 434, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 629, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 18, Ch. 799, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 19, Sp. L. November 1993; amd. Sec. 184, Ch. 546, L. 1995.