The department is designated and empowered as the agency of this state to apply for, receive, and administer grants and donations for health purposes from the federal government and from any of its departments, agencies, and instrumentalities; from appropriations of the state; and from any other sources in conformity with law. The department shall have the authority to prescribe the purposes for which such funds may be used in order to:

(1) Provide, extend, and improve maternal and child health services;

(2) Locate children already crippled or suffering from conditions leading to crippling and provide for such children medical, surgical, corrective, and other services and to provide for facilities for diagnosis, hospitalization, and aftercare;

(3) Advance the control of cancer and of venereal, tubercular, and other diseases;

(4) Forestall and correct conditions that, if left to run their course, could be injurious to health;

(5) Conduct programs which lie within the scope and the power of the department relating to industrial hygiene, control of ionizing radiation, occupational health, water quality, water pollution control, and planning and development of water resources;

(6) Administer grants-in-aid to assist in the construction of publicly owned and operated general and special medical facilities;

(7) Conduct programs:

(A) Relating to chronic illness;

(B) Relating to the dental health of the people of this state which are appropriate to the purpose of the department; and

(C) Relating to the mental and physical health of the people of this state which are appropriate to the purpose of the department; and

(8) Develop the health aspects of civil defense.

When a plan is required to be approved by any department, agency, or instrumentality of the federal government as condition precedent to the making of grants for health purposes, the department, as agent of this state, is directed to formulate, submit, and secure approval of that plan and thereafter, upon its approval and the receipt of funds payable thereunder, to carry the plan into effect in accordance with its terms, applying thereto the funds so received as well as other applicable amounts from whatever source.