To make agreements with any other department, authority or commission of this State, any State university or public or private agency, to make and receive payment for services provided to or by such bodies, and with written approval by the Governor to make agreements with other states.
     The Department may enter into agreements with any public or private agency determined appropriate and qualified by the Department that will participate in the cost and operation of programs, in at least 4 different communities, that provide a comprehensive array of child and family services, including but not limited to prenatal care to pregnant women, parenting education, and early childhood education services, nutrition services, and basic health services to children of preschool age and their parents who reside in service areas of the State identified by the Illinois Department of Public Health as having the highest rates of infant mortality under the Infant Mortality Reduction Act (now repealed). The Department may assume primary or full financial and administrative responsibility for any such program that has demonstrated effectiveness.