(a) The purpose of this act is to establish a Children's Policy for the territory.
(b) This policy shall be interpreted in conjunction with all relevant laws, regulations, and the cultural heritage of the child and shall apply to all children who have need of services including, but not limited to, those mentally, socially, emotionally, physically, developmentally, educationally or economically disadvantaged or handicapped; those dependent, neglected, abused or exploited; and, those who by their circumstance or action commit delinquent acts within this territory and are found to be in need of treatment or sanctions.
(c) The policy for children who commit delinquent acts is a balance between treatment and sanctions. Emphasis is placed upon public safety and deterrence. Children should become aware through the imposition of sanctions that delinquent behavior will not be excused. Sanctions will be dispensed in a manner that is “appropriate to the seriousness of the offense”.
(d) It shall be the policy of this territory to concentrate on the prevention of children's problems as the most important strategy which can be planned and implemented on behalf of children and their families. The territory shall encourage community involvement in the provisions of children's services including, as an integral part, public and private groups in order to encourage and provide innovative strategies for children's services. To maximize resources in providing services to children in need, all departments providing service to children shall develop methods to coordinate their services' resources. For children with multiple needs, the furtherance of this policy requires that all children's service agencies recognize that their jurisdiction in meeting these children's needs is not mutually exclusive.
(e) When children or their families request help, Federal and Territorial government resources shall be utilized to complement community efforts to help meet the needs of children by aiding in the prevention and resolution of their problems. The territory shall direct its efforts first to strengthen and encourage family life as the most appropriate environment for the care and nurturing of children. To this end, the territory shall assist and encourage families to utilize all available resources. For children in need of services, care and guidance, the territory shall attempt to secure those services needed to serve the emotional, mental and physical welfare of children and the best interests of the community, preferably in their homes or in the least restrictive environment possible. When children must be placed in care away from their homes, the territory shall attempt to ensure that they are protected against harmful effects resulting from the temporary or permanent inability of parents to provide care and protection of their children. It is the policy of this territory to reunite children with their families in a timely manner, whether or not the child has been voluntarily placed in the care of a department. When children must be permanently removed from their homes, they shall if practicable be placed in adoptive homes so that they may become members of a family by legal adoption or, absent that possibility, they shall be placed in other permanent settings.
(f) The Children's Policy shall be implemented through the cooperative efforts of legislative, judicial and executive branches, as well as other public and private resources. Where resources are limited, services shall be targeted to those children in greatest need.
(g) Further, it is the duty of every government officer and employee to render such assistance and cooperation as is within his jurisdictional power to further the objects of this chapter. All institutions or other agencies to which any child is committed shall give to the court or its representative such information concerning such child as the court may require. The court is authorized to seek the cooperation of and may use the available services of any societies or organizations, public or private, having for their objective the protection or aid of children or families, including family counseling services, to the end that the court may be assisted in every reasonable way to give the children and families within its jurisdiction such care, protection and assistance as will best enhance their welfare.
(h) The laws relating to delinquency, persons in need of supervision, abuse and neglect shall be liberally construed to carry out the intent and purpose of the Children's Policy.