N.Y. Executive Law § 990: Legislative findings

§ 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.