information and services

information and services Sec. 203. (a) The Secretary shall establish in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare an appropriate administrative arrangement to provide a centralized focus for planning and coordinating of all departmental activities affecting adoption and foster care and for carrying out the provisions of this title. The Secretary shall make available such consultant services and personnel, together with 92 STAT. 210appropriate administrative expenses, as are necessary for carrying out such purposes. (b) In connection with carrying out the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary shall— (1) provide (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations) for the establishment and operation of a national adoption and foster care data gathering and analysis system utilizing data collected by States pursuant to requirements of law; (2) conduct (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private nonprofit agencies or organizations) an education and training program on adoption, and prepare, publish, and disseminate (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private nonprofit agencies and organizations) to all interested parties, public and private agencies and organizations (including, but not limited to, hospitals, health care and family planning clinics, and social services agencies), and governmental bodies, information and education and training materials regarding adoption and adoption assistance programs; (3) notwithstanding any other provision of law. provide (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private non-profit agencies or organizations) for (A) the operation of a national adoption information exchange system (including only such information as is necessary to facilitate the adoptive placement of children, utilizing computers and data processing methods to assist in the location of children who would benefit by adoption and in the placement in adoptive homes of children awaiting adoption); and (B) the coordination of such system with similar State and regional systems; (4) provide (directly or by grant to or contract with public or private nonprofit agencies or organizations, including parent groups) for the provision of technical assistance in the planning, improving, developing, and carrying out of programs and activities relating to adoption: and (5) consult with other appropriate Federal departments and agencies in order to promote maximum coordination of the services and benefits provided under programs carried out by such departments and agencies with those carried out by the Secretary, and provide for the coordination of such aspects of all programs within the Department of Health. Education, and Welfare relating to adoption.