RS 287.2 - Legislative intent
A. It is the intent of the legislature to make available, subject to the availability of funds, intensive services to children and families that are designed to prevent the unnecessary imminent placement of children in foster care and designed to facilitate the reunification of the children with their families. These services are known as family preservation services and are characterized by the following values, beliefs, and goals:
(1) Safety of the child is always the first concern.
(2) Children need their families and should be raised by their own families whenever possible.
(3) Interventions should focus on family strengths and be responsive to individual family needs.
(4) Improvement of family functioning is essential in order to promote the child's health, safety, and welfare and thereby allows the family to remain intact and allows children to remain at home.
B. Subject to the availability of funds for such purposes, the legislature intends for family preservation services to be made available to all eligible families on a statewide basis through a phased-in process. Except as otherwise specified by statute, the Department of Children and Family Services shall have the authority and discretion to implement and expand family preservation services according to a plan and time frame determined by the department.
C. Nothing in this Subpart shall be construed to create an entitlement to services nor to create judicial authority to order the provision of family preservation services to any person or family where the department has determined that such services are unavailable or unsuitable, or that the child or family are not eligible for such services.
Acts 1993, No. 857, §1, eff. June 23, 1993.