§352D-2 Policy for youth. A policy for youth is established for the State as follows:

(1) It shall be the policy of this State to concentrate on the prevention of delinquency as an important strategy which can be planned and implemented on behalf of youth and their families. The State shall encourage community involvement in the provision of services for youth including, as an integral part, local government, public and private voluntary groups, public and private nonprofit groups, and private-for-profit groups in order to encourage and provide innovative strategies for these services. To maximize resources and services to youth in need of services, agencies shall develop standards of care, methods to coordinate services, and evaluate and monitor these activities. For youth with special needs, the furtherance of this policy requires all agencies to recognize that their jurisdiction in meeting these youths' needs are not mutually exclusive and that they will work jointly under the coordination of the office of youth services;

(2) When youth at risk or their families request help, state and local government resources shall be utilized to complement community efforts to help meet the needs of youth by aiding in the prevention and resolution of their problems. The State shall direct its efforts first to strengthen and encourage family life as the most appropriate environment for the care and nurturing of youth. To this end, the State shall assist and encourage families to utilize all available resources. For youth in need of services, the State shall secure those services as are needed to serve the emotional, mental, and physical welfare of youth and the best interests of the community, preferably in the youth's home or in the least restrictive environment possible. When youths must be placed in care away from their homes, the State shall ensure that they are protected against any harmful effects resulting from the temporary or permanent inability of parents to provide care and protection for their youth; and

(3) This policy for youth shall be implemented through the cooperative efforts of state and county legislative, judicial, and executive branches, as well as other public and private resources. Where resources are limited, services shall be targeted to those youth in greatest need. [L 1989, c 375, pt of §1]