South Carolina Code of Laws
Chapter 38 - Head And Spinal Cord Injuries
Section 44-38-340. Duties of department.

The department shall:
(1) develop a state plan for a comprehensive system of services for persons with head and spinal cord injuries, including short-term and long-term goals and objectives for implementing the plan;
(2) receive surveillance data from the South Carolina Head and Spinal Cord Injury Information System to use in developing and revising the state plan to meet the changing needs of this population;
(3) identify gaps in services for head and spinal cord injured persons and spearhead development of those services needed for the comprehensive system of service delivery;
(4) develop licensing, program, and contract guidelines to be used by case managers in working with service delivery agencies;
(5) in conjunction with other state agencies, prepare, coordinate, and advocate for state appropriations needed to fund and to develop services needed to implement the state plan;
(6) seek funding from other sources, private and federal, including, but not limited to, medicaid waivers and expansion of the medicaid program, to provide services outlined in the state plan;
(7) evaluate the state plan including, but not limited to, how well head and spinal cord injured persons are identified, referred, and served by the system and its impact on their quality of life, including reintegration and productivity in the community;
(8) promote public awareness through programs relating to head and spinal cord injury prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation;
(9) promote research on the causes, effects, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of head and spinal cord injuries;
(10) serve as the central and initial point for receiving referrals for case management services from the South Carolina Head and Spinal Cord Injury Information System and all other sources;
(11) determine a person's eligibility for case management services based on criteria provided in Section 44-38-370, conduct an assessment of services needed, and provide appropriate case management based on an individualized treatment plan designed to meet the specific needs of the person;
(12) develop policies and procedures to be used by the case managers to ensure, among other things, that a person with a head or spinal cord injury receives equal access to available services and that case management services maximize the person's self-determination and self-advocacy;
(13) develop training programs for case managers and other professionals to prepare and assist them in working with persons with head and spinal cord injuries;
(14) coordinate the delivery of services and ensure that services are appropriate and delivered in a timely manner;
(15) advocate for persons with head and spinal cord injuries to assist them in receiving equal access to services and services which promote independence and productivity.
HISTORY: 1993 Act No. 159, Section 1; 1993 Act No. 181, Section 1103.