Section 990. Legislative findings

1.  The  legislature  finds  that  the
  children of this state are at the same  time  both  our  most  important
  resource  and  our most vulnerable citizens. Children best develop their
  unique potential in a caring and healthy family environment either  with
  their  birth  parents  or other relatives or in an adoptive family, with
  support from other nurturing environments, especially  the  schools  and
  the  community.  As such, children need a special state policy to ensure
  the strength and viability of their families.
    2. The legislature further finds that there  is  a  critical  lack  of
  services available to families and that the shortage of such services is
  exacerbated  by a lack of coordination of the many existing programs and
  policies of state and local governments  that  impact  on  children  and
  families.  The legislature also finds that the planning and provision of
  services for children and  their  families  would  be  enhanced  by  the
  establishment  of  a  family  policy  to ensure that all state and local
  planning and provision of services are  effectuated  in  a  manner  that
  maximizes  support  and  strengthening  of  the  family  structure. Such
  actions also must be directed toward stemming the  human  and  financial
  costs  of  the  unnecessary  placement  of children outside their homes,
  while ensuring the safety and well-being of children by providing needed
  services to them  and  their  families  and,  when  appropriate,  toward
  supporting  permanency  planning  for children through adoption or other
  means.