43-1-53 - Organization of division; qualifications of director. - Mississippi Statutes

§ 43-1-53. Organization of division; qualifications of director.
 

(1)  The Division of Family and Children's Services shall be formed at each level of the Department of Human Services, including state, regional and county levels. The Executive Director of the Department of Human Services shall appoint and employ a director for the division who shall have a Master's Degree in a field related to children's services. In addition, he shall have no less than three (3) years' experience in the field of service to children. In lieu of such degree and experience, he shall have a minimum of ten (10) years' actual experience in the field of children's services. 

(2)  The state office of the Division of Family and Children's Services shall develop policy, provide training and oversee the implementation of services. The director shall establish such planning and policy councils as may be necessary to carry out these functions. 

(3)  The regional office of the Division of Family and Children's Services shall consist of a regional services director and a crisis intervention team to be dispatched on a case-by-case basis by the regional services director. From and after July 1, 1998, the Department of Human Services shall at a minimum employ and assign to the Division of Family and Children's Services two (2) additional regional services directors for supervision of the foster care program. 

(4)  Area offices. Each region shall be divided into three (3) areas, each of which shall have two (2) supervisors and direct service workers deployed at the county level, but not limited in jurisdiction to that county. 

(5)  Counties. The area supervisors shall assign service workers so that every county has an appropriate access point for all services. 
 

Sources: Laws,  1986, ch. 500, § 37; Laws, 1989, ch. 544, § 66; Laws, 1998, ch. 516, § 2, eff from and after passage (approved March 31, 1998).