(a) The Department shall establish, administer, coordinate and supervise all publicly financed services and programs for youth, children, handicapped, elderly, and low-income adults and families (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “clients”) within the jurisdiction provided in this chapter.
(b) The Department, through the Commissioner, is empowered and has the duty to:
(1) provide a central intake system for clients seeking services from the Department;
(2) provide counseling, employment training and related services to clients as may be applicable;
(3) operate and maintain special programs to achieve a high level of social welfare for clients;
(4) provide adoption services;
(5) establish standards for and license and supervise child care and welfare services, institutions and programs provided by private individuals or child care agencies;
(6) plan, administer and operate all public institutions or shelters furnishing institutional care of a custodial nature or shelter care for the aged, infirm or otherwise handicapped persons (other than those requiring care in a medical institution) including the furnishing of casework, occupational therapy and recreation services for the residents thereof;
(7) provide counseling services and intervention in cases of suspected or confirmed mental or physical abuse, neglect or abandonment;
(8) create and maintain training and preservation programs including, but not limited to, music, art and dance unique to the cultural heritage of the United States Virgin Islands;
(9) provide court-ordered reports, counseling, rehabilitation, prevention and related services to juvenile offenders and their families;
(10) provide for pre-trial and crisis intervention centers as may be practicable;
(11) provide referral assistance to aliens in problems of immigration and attaining assimilation into the community;
(12) cooperate with and operate programs for persons who volunteer to assist in eliminating poverty and related environmental problems;
(13) assist the physically or emotionally disabled to prolong independent living in their own homes;
(14) develop, operate and maintain work-incentive programs;
(15) maintain a continuing review of all programs affecting clients and identify research needs and assist in obtaining funds for research and demonstration projects;
(16) promote employment opportunities for clients, as appropriate;
(17) promote the exchange of research information and pertinent data affecting the welfare of clients which would improve services and programs to the clients;
(18) inquire into and make recommendations to appropriate agencies, public or private, on any matter affecting the behavior, care, or welfare of clients, and enlist the aid of public and private agencies concerned with the welfare of clients;
(19) ensure the enforcement of laws pertaining to the care, control, protection, rehabilitation and general welfare of clients;
(20) receive and expend all funds made available to the Department by the United States Government and from any other sources for carrying forward programs administered by the Department; and
(21) prepare an annual budget for all Departmental operations for timely submission to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
(c) The Department, through the Commissioner, shall identify, assess, coordinate and eliminate conflict, duplication and inconsistencies among programs affecting youth, children, handicapped, elderly and low-income adults and families; shall promote efficiency among such programs; and shall seek to coordinate, to the maximum extent feasible, such programs with other federal, local of private programs affecting such persons.
(d) The Commissioner shall serve as Administrator for the Interstate Compact for Juveniles established in title 5, chapter 410 of this Code and shall administer and manage the supervision and transfer of juveniles subject to the terms of the Interstate Compact for Juveniles, the rules adopted by the Interstate Commission and policies adopted by the State Council under the Compact.