Ark. Code Ann. § 20-47-501: Purpose

The General Assembly finds that services to children are provided by various departments and agencies at both the state and local level, often without appropriate collaboration. The General Assembly declares that the purpose of this subchapter is to establish a structure for coordinated policy development, comprehensive planning, collaborative budgeting, and resource allocation for services to children with emotional disturbance and their families. It is further the intention of this subchapter to build on existing resources and to design and implement a coordinated service system for children with emotional disturbances that is child-centered, family-centered, and community-based.