Action to support a comprehensive range of child-centered services to ensure all children a chance to grow toward stable, productive adulthood. (1995)

 

a.       collaboration across departmental and agency lines to provide seamless services for children;

b.      community-based points of entry where families at risk can apply for multiple services;

c.       consumer-oriented service centers sited in easily accessible neighborhood locations (such as schools) with hours convenient to families;

d.      a compatible computer system with appropriate safeguards for confidentiality, connecting agencies serving children to allow more open collaboration and provide comprehensive resource listing;

e.       a non-categorized contingency fund with rational limits and clear accountability available to line workers dealing with crisis situations;

f.       early intervention to prevent later crisis;

g.      result-oriented, long-term evaluations of program and services based on measured outcomes.

 

Background: These positions result from a concurrence with Montgomery County League positions. They were adopted to supplement LWVUS Social Policy positions (which provided a basis for League support of services to children and families) to enable LWVMD and Local Leagues to comment on how to make such services most effective. The concurrence was approved by Local League members, rather than by Convention, so that members could review the positions along with information about the adequacy of services to children and families in their own communities. The Calvert County League, for example, produced and distributed “A Wake-Up Call” and then took the lead in founding a non-profit organization focusing on children’s needs and services.