(A)(1) The Department of Social Services may maintain a toll-free number available to persons throughout the State for the referral of family-related problems, including:

(a) the reporting of known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect;

(b) other problems of a nature which may affect the stability of family life.

(2) This telephone service shall operate continuously. Upon receipt of a call involving suspected abuse or neglect, the Department of Social Services shall transmit the full contents of the report to the appropriate county department office. Immediately upon transmitting the report the department shall destroy the contents of the suspected report. Upon receipt of a call involving other problems of a nature which may affect the stability of family life, the department shall refer the call to the appropriate county department office or other service agency where appropriate.

(B) The department shall have within it a separate organizational unit administered within the department with qualified staff and resources sufficient to fulfill the purposes and functions assigned to it by this article.

(C) The department's responsibilities shall include, but are not limited to:

(1) assigning and monitoring initial child protection responsibility through periodic review of services offered throughout the State;

(2) assisting in the diagnosis of child abuse and neglect;

(3) coordinating referrals of known or suspected child abuse and neglect;

(4) measuring the effectiveness of existing child protection programs and facilitating research, planning, and program development; and

(5) establishing and monitoring a statewide Central Registry for Child Abuse and Neglect.

(D) The department may contract for the delivery of protective services, family preservation services, foster care services, family reunification services, adoptions services, and other related services or programs. The department shall remain responsible for the quality of the services or programs and shall ensure that each contract contains provisions requiring the provider to deliver services in accordance with departmental policies and state and federal law.

(E) The department may promulgate regulations and formulate policies and methods of administration to carry out effectively child protective services, activities, and responsibilities.

HISTORY: 2008 Act No. 361, Section 2.