(a) There shall be in each county of the state a county department of family and children services, which shall consist of a county board of family and children services, a county director of family and children services, and such additional employees as may be necessary for the efficient performance of the welfare services of the county.

(b) With the approval of the Department of Human Resources, two or more counties may, however, unite and form a district department of family and children services, in which case a county board shall be appointed for each county composing the district as provided in Code Section 49-3-2 and those boards, acting together, shall constitute the district board. All duties and responsibilities set forth in this title for county departments shall also apply to district departments. The district director and other executive staff of any district department shall be appointed by the Department of Human Resources, provided that the department shall not appoint as district director any person whose appointment is not approved by a majority of the district board concerned in a meeting of such district board called for that purpose.