Tennessee Code Title 33. Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities § 33-1-304

(1) Based on best practice and research, assess the needs of service recipients and potential service recipients throughout the state, plan for a system to meet the needs, set standards for services and supports for service recipients, promote the development of services and supports for service recipients in a community-based, family-oriented system, perform the department's duties, and achieve the department's goals;

(2) Collaborate with all relevant state agencies to coordinate the administration of state programs and policies that directly affect service recipients with respect to treatment, habilitation and education;

(3) Advise the governor, general assembly, state, local, and private agencies, and the public in matters affecting service recipients, and advocate meeting their needs; and

(4) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, assist the council on children's mental health care in developing a plan that will establish demonstration sites in certain geographic areas where children's mental health care is child-centered, family-driven, and culturally and linguistically competent and that provides a coordinated system of care for children's mental health needs in this state.