This part of the organization is responsible for direct regulatory services for child day and adult day and residential programs statewide from eight service locations. These services include: responding to inquiries, processing licensure applications, issuing licenses for permission to operate, monitoring regulated facilities for continued compliance, investigating complaints, investigating alleged illegal operations, providing technical assistance and consultation, approving waivers to licensing standards, and reviewing and responding to informal appeals. The central operations component provides programmatic direction and monitoring for all licensing programs that are performed in the regions. They also engage in resolution of problem cases and media support involved and preparation of variance and enforcement cases. They are responsible for the contracting process and the oversight, monitoring, and program direction to six contractors that perform the voluntary registration program and issuance and data collection for that program.