| (1) Planning and quality assurance; |
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| (2) Staff training and professional development; |
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| (3) Regional structure and administrative functions; | and |
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| (4) The employment status of division directors; |
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| C. Program and service delivery functions, including: |
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| (1) A seamless system of care at the local level; |
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| (2) Information and referral, intake and case | management services; |
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| (3) Guardianship and conservatorship services; |
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| (4) Resolution of consumer, provider and public | inquiries and complaints; |
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| (5) Advocacy services; and |
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| (6) Long-term care ombuds services; |
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| D. Advisory boards, including: |
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| (1) Integration and consolidation of existing advisory | boards, councils and commissions that serve the | Department of Human Services and the Department of | Behavioral and Developmental Services; and |
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| (2) Opportunities to ensure that advisory bodies to | the new department operate efficiently and effectively; | and |
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| E. The child welfare ombudsman program established as an | independent program within the Executive Department under | the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 4087-A. In | developing recommendations regarding this program, the | commissioner shall consider: |
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| (1) Program independence and structure; and |
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| (2) The 2003 annual report of the ombudsman submitted | pursuant to Title 22, section 4087-A, subsection 10. |
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| Following receipt and review of the report, the joint standing | committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and |
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|