The department shall:

1. (1) administer and supervise all forms of child and adult protective services;
2. (2) act as the lead agency in coordinating and planning services to children with multiagency service needs;
3. (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. (4) provide the following functions, as necessary, for youth in need of care:

   1. (a) intake, investigation, case management, and client supervision;
   2. (b) placement in youth care facilities;
   3. (c) contracting for necessary services;
   4. (d) protective services day care; and
   5. (e) adoption;
5. (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. (6) act as lead agency in implementing and coordinating child-care programs and services under the Montana Child Care Act;
7. (7) administer the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children;

8. (8)

   1. (a) administer child abuse prevention services funded through child abuse grants and the Montana children's trust fund provided for in Title 52, chapter 7, part 1; and
   2. (b) administer vulnerable adult abuse prevention services;
9. (9) develop a statewide youth services and resources plan that takes into consideration local needs;
10. (10) administer services to older adults;

11. (11) provide consultant services to:

    1. (a) facilities providing care for adults who are needy, indigent, or dependent or who have disabilities; and
    2. (b) youth care facilities;
12. (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. (13) contract, as necessary, for administration of child and adult protection services for each county; and
14. (14) adopt rules necessary to carry out the purposes of 52-2-612 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; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 571, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 102, Ch. 114, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 10, Ch. 12, L. 2023; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 17, L. 2023.