(a) Any county that receives funds distributed under this chapter may establish a perinatal coordinating council that consists of persons who are experts in the areas of alcohol and other drug treatment, client outreach and intervention with alcohol and other drug abusing women, child welfare services, maternal and child health services, and developmental services, and representatives from other community-based organizations.

(b) The coordination efforts provided through the council may include the following:

(1) The identification of the extent of the perinatal alcohol and other drug abuse problem in the county based on existing data.

(2) The development of coordinated responses by county health and social service agencies and departments, which responses shall address the problem of perinatal alcohol and other drug abuse in the county.

(3) The definition of the elements of an integrated alcohol and other drug abuse recovery system for pregnant women, postpartum women, and their children.

(4) The identification of essential support services to be included into the integrated recovery system defined pursuant to paragraph (3).

(5) The promotion of communitywide understanding of the perinatal alcohol and other drug abuse problem in the county and appropriate responses to the problem.

(6) The communication with policymakers at both the state and federal level about prevention and treatment needs for pregnant women, postpartum women, and their children for alcohol and other drug abuse that need to be addressed.

(7) The utilization of services that emphasize coordination of treatment services with other health, child welfare, child development, and education services.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 36, Sec. 6. (SB 1014) Effective June 27, 2012. Operative July 1, 2012, by Sec. 83 of Ch. 36.)