CHILD WELFARE MANUAL

 Department of social services to meet needs of homeless, dependent and neglected children — only certain regional child assessment centers funded. — 1.  The department of social services shall address the needs of homeless, dependent and neglected children in the supervision and custody of the children’s division and to their families-in-conflict by:

  (1)  Serving children and families as a unit in the least restrictive setting available and in close proximity to the family home, consistent with the best interests and special needs of the child;

  (2)  Insuring that appropriate social services are provided to the family unit both prior to the removal of the child from the home and after family reunification;

  (3)  Developing and implementing preventive and early intervention social services which have demonstrated the ability to delay or reduce the need for out-of-home placements and ameliorate problems before they become chronic.

  2.  The department of social services shall fund only regional child assessment centers known as:

  (1)  The St. Louis City child assessment center;

  (2)  The St. Louis County child assessment center;

  (3)  The Jackson County child assessment center;

  (4)  The Buchanan County child assessment center;

  (5)  The Greene County child assessment center;

  (6)  The Boone County child assessment center;

  (7)  The Joplin child assessment center;

  (8)  The St. Charles County child assessment center;

  (9)  The Jefferson County child assessment center;

  (10)  The Pettis County child assessment center;

  (11)  The southeast Missouri child assessment center;

  (12)  The Camden County child assessment center;

  (13)  The Clay-Platte County child assessment center;

  (14)  The Lakes Area child assessment center;

  (15)  The Ozark Foothills child assessment center; and

  (16)  The North Central Missouri child assessment center;

provided the other approved assessment centers included in subdivisions (1) to (14) of this subsection submit to the department of social services a modified funding formula for all approved child assessment centers, which would require no additional state funding.