§18B-2-8. Consortium of comprehensive child development centers; establishment and operation of a consortium of comprehensive child development centers.

(a) There is hereby established a consortium of comprehensive child development centers under the auspices of the board of trustees and under the direction and administration of the vice chancellor for health sciences. The goals of the consortium include, but are not limited to:

(1) Recommending a comprehensive diagnostic and technical support system to assist faculty and students in providing educational programs for students with disabilities;

(2) Providing a system for the comprehensive interdisciplinary diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of children and young adults with special needs and their families;

(3) Offering programs for the training of parents and families;

(4) Creating significant links between disciplines, departments, schools, colleges, universities and agencies;

(5) Providing all services (clinical, training, technical assistance and consultation) at child development centers and at strategically planned outreach sites, including institutions of higher education;

(6) Planning and implementing a statewide system of care for children with special needs and their families;

(7) Providing family-centered, community-based, culturally sensitive, coordinated care;

(8) Assuring interdisciplinary, interagency cooperation;

(9) Linking community-based health and educational services with institutions of higher education;

(10) Establishing a statewide comprehensive diagnostic support team and advisory boards at each center composed of agency representatives, physicians, education providers, center personnel, parents and others; and

(11) Facilitating significant parent and family participation, including parents as members of the statewide team and representing a majority of the membership of each center's advisory boards.

(b) Subject to appropriations by the Legislature, the board of trustees is authorized and directed to establish at least four comprehensive child development sites at existing university health science centers located at Morgantown, Charleston, Huntington and Lewisburg. Planning of at least these four centers and the establishment of advisory boards shall be completed by July 1, 1993. The board of trustees shall establish at least these four sites prior to January 1, 1994.

The board of trustees may enter into a contractual relationship with each child development center, which shall be in accordance with laws that apply to publicly funded partnerships with private, nonprofit entities and the provisions of section three, article five of this chapter.