52-1-103. Powers and duties of department. The department shall:
     (1) administer and supervise all forms of child and adult protective services;
     (2) act as the lead agency in coordinating and planning services to children with multiagency service needs;
     (3) establish a system of councils at the state and local levels to make recommendations and to advise the department on issues, including children's issues;
     (4) provide the following functions, as necessary, for youth in need of care:
     (a) intake, investigation, case management, and client supervision;
     (b) placement in youth care facilities;
     (c) contracting for necessary services;
     (d) protective services day care; and
     (e) adoption;
     (5) register or license youth care facilities, child-placing agencies, day-care facilities, community homes for persons with developmental disabilities, community homes for severely disabled persons, and adult foster care facilities;
     (6) act as lead agency in implementing and coordinating child-care programs and services under the Montana Child Care Act;
     (7) administer the interstate compact for children;
     (8) (a) administer child abuse prevention services funded through child abuse grants and the Montana children's trust fund provided for in Title 41, chapter 3, part 7; and
     (b) administer elder abuse prevention services;
     (9) develop a statewide youth services and resources plan that takes into consideration local needs;
     (10) administer services to the aged;
     (11) provide consultant services to:
     (a) facilities providing care for adults who are needy, indigent, or dependent or who have disabilities; and
     (b) youth care facilities;
     (12) use the staff and services of other state agencies and units of the Montana university system, within their respective statutory functions, to carry out its functions under this title;
     (13) contract, as necessary, with the county board of welfare for administration of child and adult protection services for that county; and
     (14) adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of 41-3-1126 and this chapter.

     History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 609, L. 1987; amd. Sec. 61, Ch. 83, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 692, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 8, Ch. 655, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 91, L. 1993; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 255, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 22, Ch. 458, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 335, Ch. 546, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 11, Ch. 171, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 49, Ch. 472, L. 1997.