The duties of the secretary shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Advising the Governor and the Legislature in matters relating to the coordination of services for children under the age of 19.
(2) Serving as a liaison between the Governor and state agencies providing programs or services for children.
(3) Educating and informing legislators and other elected officials about issues affecting children.
(4) Coordinating local effort by creating a network of existing local and community groups and advocates dedicated to children to enable beneficial organizations throughout the state to assist and educate each other.
(5) Actively seeking and applying for federal and private grants to fund children's programs.
(6) Establishing a repository for information on programs other than education programs offered by the Department of Education for K-12 in Alabama, which offer services for, or are for the benefit of, or in any way affect Alabama's children, including, but not limited to, the Department of Human Resources, the Department of Mental Health, Rehabilitation Services, the Department of Public Health, the Department of Youth Services, the Children's Trust Fund, the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board, the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, and the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board.
(7) Preparing and submitting to the Governor and the Legislature annual reports on activities and expenditures of state and local agencies related to children; all state, local, and federal funding available for children's programs other than education programs offered by the Department of Education for K-12; and recommendations of proposed legislation on the most efficient utilization of resources available in order to maximize services provided to children.
(8) Preparing or causing to be prepared, and submitting for approval and adoption by the Children's Policy Council, legislation required to meet the unmet needs of children by further development and improvement of children services.
(9) Review the budget requests for children's services of any state agency that administers children's programs other than education programs offered by the Department of Education for K-12.
(10) Develop a cohesive and comprehensive system of high quality early learning and care.
Last modified: May 3, 2021