The Department of Health and Social Services shall develop the child welfare activities conducted by the Child Welfare Commission before its abolition and maintain a traveling child health center to serve the sparsely settled sections of the State. The Department of Health and Social Services shall cooperate with state, county and local officials bodies in the development of such child welfare work as the Department of Health and Social Services may believe will materially advance the best interests of the children of the State. The Department of Health and Social Services shall make a study of the needs of children a definite part of its work and shall make recommendations for executive and legislative action in matters relating to children.