§6204. Department duties

1.  Duties.  The department shall:

A. Strengthen the capacity of families, natural helping networks, self-help groups and other community resources to support and serve children in need of treatment;   [PL 1985, c. 503, §12 (NEW).]

B. Facilitate the planning, promoting, coordination, delivery and evaluation of a complete and integrated statewide system of services to children in need of treatment and their families; and   [PL 1985, c. 503, §12 (NEW).]

C. Support those services appropriate to children in need of treatment and their families, including, but not necessarily limited to, the following:

(1) Advocacy;

(2) Assessment and diagnosis;

(3) Child development;

(4) Consultation and education;

(5) Crisis intervention;

(6) Family guidance and counseling;

(7) Preventive intervention;

(8) Professional consultation and training;

(9) Respite care and other family support services; and

(10) Treatment.   [PL 1987, c. 349, Pt. H, §27 (AMD).]

[PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §71 (AMD).]

2.  Powers.  The department may perform the duties described in subsection 1 and may provide services to children in need of treatment through state-operated facilities and programs or through contracts and grants to public and private agencies. In all cases, the department shall ensure that services are provided in the least restrictive setting consistent with the child's needs, commensurate with the resources available to the department and in coordination with services and resources of other state agencies serving children and families. Emphasis must be placed on maintaining each child in the child's natural home or in an alternative placement within the community whenever possible.

[PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §71 (AMD).]

2-A.  Improvement and expansion of day treatment services for emotionally handicapped children.  The department shall work cooperatively with the Department of Corrections and Department of Education to improve and expand day treatment programs for emotionally handicapped school-age children so that they and their families may receive necessary, appropriate and coordinated therapeutic and educational services in home and community settings, reducing the likelihood that out-of-home or residential treatment placements will be required. The department shall license these programs pursuant to sections 3603 and 3606. The Department of Education shall approve these programs pursuant to Title 20-A, chapter 206. The 2 departments shall jointly develop standards to ensure a consistent high quality throughout the State.

[RR 2003, c. 2, §107 (COR).]

3.  Appointment of director.

[PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §71 (RP).]

4.  Qualifications of director.

[PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §71 (RP).]

5.  Term.

[PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §71 (RP).]

6.  Duties and powers of director.

[PL 1995, c. 560, Pt. K, §71 (RP).]

SECTION HISTORY

PL 1985, c. 503, §12 (NEW). PL 1985, c. 777, §2 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 349, §H27 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 700, §A168 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 560, §K71 (AMD). RR 2003, c. 2, §107 (COR).