(A) The Department of Social Services shall:

(1) disburse the funds pursuant to Section 44-122-60, upon receiving notification from the county government that a contractor has been selected and determining that the contract and the process by which it was awarded are in compliance with federal requirements;

(2) evaluate the success of the initiatives funded under this chapter, as required by Section 44-122-60;

(3) analyze all available information and report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the effectiveness of the fund in measurably reducing the rate of adolescent pregnancy in the State. These reports must be made annually, with the first report due three years after the first distribution of funds pursuant to Section 44-122-30(A); and

(4) provide to each county government specific criteria required by this chapter.

(B) County governments shall:

(1) oversee and administer funds distributed to the county pursuant to Section 44-122-30(A). To access funds, the county government shall submit to the department the identity of the contractor, the amount of the contract, and a copy of the proposal;

(2) choose from among the applicants recommended by the interagency council for the county or select an appropriate applicant if no interagency council exists. Nothing in this act requires the establishment of an interagency council;

(3) develop criteria in addition to those stated herein or established by the department, as necessary, to meet specific local needs; and

(4) monitor contractors' progress in meeting stated goals, objectives, and timeliness.

(C) Local interagency councils shall review applications for an allocation of funds and recommend to the county government those applications that meet the standards and criteria as stated herein or established by the department or the county government. If no local interagency council exists in a county, the county government shall determine whether applications meet the standards and criteria.

(D) Contractors shall:

(1) comply with reporting, contracting, and evaluation requirements of the county government and the department;

(2) define and maintain cooperative ties with other community institutions;

(3) coordinate and collaborate with other community entities, including county Teen Companion Programs, that have an interest in positive youth development and adolescent risk behavior reduction;

(4) obtain approval from the county government and the department insofar as compliance with federal regulations is concerned before making changes in program goals, objectives, and target populations; and

(5) before the beginning of each fiscal year, submit to the county government for approval a budget of planned expenditures, and at the end of each fiscal year, render an accounting of expenditures to the county government;

(6) submit bi-annual summary program progress reports to the county government and the local interagency council, with copies to the department and the evaluator, beginning January 1, 2001, describing the status of the project and developments during the preceding six months.

(E) The Department of Health and Environmental Control shall:

(1) provide technical assistance and training to county governments and contractors, as needed, related to adolescent pregnancy prevention issues; and

(2) if a community health assessment has been conducted in a county, share information with county governments, contractors, and program applicants about the nature of the problem, available resources, and potential barriers to the development of teen pregnancy prevention projects and activities.

HISTORY: 1998 Act No. 419, Part II, Section 47A; 2001 Act No. 1, Part II, Section 5A, eff July 1, 2000.