1. The department shall seek and encourage cooperation and active participation of communities, counties, organizations, agencies, private and not-for-profit corporations and individuals in the effort to establish and maintain quality programs and services for persons affected by mental disorders, developmental disabilities or alcohol or drug abuse. The department shall develop programs of public information and education for this purpose.

2. The department shall cooperate with and may directly contract with all state agencies, local units of government, and any of the governor’s advisory councils or commissions, or their successor agencies, and with the Missouri Mental Health Foundation, or its successor entity, in delivery of programs designed to improve public understanding of attitudes toward mental disorders, developmental disabilities, and alcohol and drug abuse pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection 1 of section 630.020. For purposes of this section, the contracting process of the department with these entities need not be governed by the provisions of chapter 34.