Section 938.485. Authority of department.

  The department may do all of the following:

(1)   Enforcement of laws. Promote the enforcement of the laws relating to delinquent juveniles and juveniles in need of protection or services and take the initiative in all matters involving the interests of those juveniles when adequate provision for those matters is not made. This duty shall be discharged in cooperation with the courts, the department of corrections, county departments, licensed child welfare agencies, parents, and other individuals interested in the welfare of juveniles.

(2)   Juvenile welfare services. Assist in extending and strengthening juvenile welfare services with appropriate federal agencies and in conformity with the federal Social Security Act and in cooperation with parents, other individuals, and other agencies so that all juveniles needing such services are reached.

(3)   Prevention, treatment, and education. Study causes and methods of prevention and treatment of juvenile delinquency and related social problems and develop and maintain education and prevention programs that the department considers to be proper. The department may utilize all powers provided by the statutes, including the authority to accept grants of money or property from federal, state, or private sources, and enlist the cooperation of other agencies and state departments.

(4)   Reimbursement of tribes and counties for tribal delinquency placements. Reimburse Indian tribes and county departments, from the appropriation under s. 20.437 (1) (kp) , for unexpected or unusually high-cost out-of-home care placements of Indian juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent by tribal courts. In this subsection, “unusually high-cost out-of-home care placements" means the amount by which the cost to an Indian tribe or to a county department of out-of-home care placements of Indian juveniles who have been adjudicated delinquent by tribal courts exceeds $50,000 in a fiscal year.

(5)   Standards for services. Establish and enforce standards for services under s. 938.183 , 938.34 , or 938.345 , other than juvenile correctional services.

(6)   Juvenile programming research and recommendations. Identify and provide ways to improve the coordination of educational programs and services for juveniles and the parents and other family members of juveniles at the state and local levels by doing all of the following:

(a) Identifying and recommending ways to eliminate governmental barriers to local development of coordinated educational programs and services for juveniles and the parents and other family members of juveniles.

(b) Identifying and recommending ways to support and involve parents and other family members of juveniles in the planning, coordination, and delivery of services for juveniles.

2015 a. 55 ss. 4700e , 4701b , 4702h .