Section 397. Powers and duties of social services officials in relation to children

All   social   services   officials   responsible   for   the
  administration  of  safety net assistance to families shall, in relation
  to all children in such families other than delinquent children, persons
  in  need  of  supervision,  mentally   disabled   children,   physically
  handicapped children and children born out of wedlock who shall be cared
  for  under  the  provisions  of  the  following section, have powers and
  perform duties as follows:
    1. As to destitute children:
    (a) Investigate the family circumstances of  each  child  reported  as
  destitute  in order to determine what care, supervision or treatment, if
  any, such child requires.
    (b)  Administer  and  supervise  relief  to  families  with  destitute
  children  when  such  families  are unable to care for such children and
  relief is necessary to prevent the separation  of  children  from  their
  parents.
    (c)  Furnish children, whose parents or guardians are unable to do so,
  with suitable clothing, shoes, books,  food  and  other  necessaries  to
  enable them to attend upon instruction as required by law.
    2. As to neglected and abused children:
    (a)  Investigate complaints of neglect and abuse of children and offer
  protective social services to prevent injury to the child, to  safeguard
  his  welfare,  and  to  preserve  and  stabilize  family  life  wherever
  possible.
    (b) Bring such  case  when  necessary  before  the  family  court  for
  adjudication.
    (c) Institute proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction against
  a parent or adult for neglect or abuse of a child.
    3.  Provide  any  necessary medical or hospital care for such children
  when  responsible  for  the  provision  of  such  care   under   section
  sixty-nine.
    4.  The  provisions  of  this section shall not be deemed to confer on
  social services officials responsible  only  for  the  authorization  of
  safety net assistance or of safety net assistance and hospital care, any
  powers and duties in relation to destitute and neglected children except
  as follows:
    (a) As to destitute children:
    (1)  Authorize  relief  to  families with destitute children when such
  families are unable to care for such children and relief is necessary to
  prevent the separation of children from their parents.
    (2) Furnish children, whose parents or guardians are unable to do  so,
  with  suitable  clothing,  shoes,  books,  food and other necessaries to
  enable them to attend upon instruction as required by law.
    (b) As to neglected and abused children:
    Report to the county commissioner any complaint they  may  receive  of
  neglect and abuse of children.
    (c)  Provide  any  necessary  medical  care  or hospital care for such
  children when responsible for the provision of such care  under  section
  sixty-nine.