A.(1)  The legislature finds that programs and services to children and their families are provided by a myriad of state departments, offices, and agencies, as well as many entities at the local level.  Funding for such programs is provided from numerous sources, federal, state, and local.  There is a serious need to coordinate and focus programs and funding to achieve the most effective and efficient use of monetary, human, and organizational resources.

(2)  The legislature further finds that the policies of many funding programs have directed funding for needs of children and their families toward meeting crises, toward out-of-home placement, and toward services related to this focus.

(3)  The legislature recognizes a need to identify all potential sources of funding for services for children and their families and to develop strategies to assure the coordinated use of such funding toward the development of a family and community-based service delivery system.

B.  In order to meet these needs the legislature creates the Children’s Cabinet.

Acts 1992, No. 971, §2; Acts 1998, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 5, §§2, 3, eff. April 24, 1998; Acts 2003, No. 245, §1, eff. June 5, 2003; Acts 2003, No. 1225, §6; Acts 2008, No. 780, §1.