2007 US Code
Title 42 - THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
CHAPTER 127 - COORDINATED SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
Sec. 12301 - Findings

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§12301. Findings

Congress finds that—

(1) children and youth are inherently the most valuable resource of the United States;

(2) the welfare, protection, healthy development, and positive role of children and youth in society are essential to the United States;

(3) children and youth deserve love, respect, and guidance, as well as good health, shelter, food, education, productive employment opportunities, and preparation for responsible participation in community life;

(4) children and youth have increasing opportunities to participate in the decisions that affect their lives;

(5) the family is the primary caregiver and source of social learning and must be supported and strengthened;

(6) when a family is unable to ensure the satisfaction of basic needs of children and youth it is the responsibility of society to assist such family; and

(7) it is the joint and several responsibility of the Federal Government, each State, and the political subdivisions of each State to assist children and youth to secure, to the maximum extent practicable, equal opportunity to full and free access to—

(A) the best possible physical and mental health;

(B) adequate and safe physical shelter;

(C) a high level of educational opportunity;

(D) effective training, apprenticeships, opportunities for community service, and productive employment and participation in decisions affecting their lives;

(E) a wide range of civic, cultural, and recreational activities that recognize young Americans as resources and promote self-esteem and a stake in the communities of such Americans; and

(F) comprehensive community services that are efficient, coordinated, readily available, and involve families of young individuals.

(Pub. L. 101–501, title IX, §902, Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1262.)

Effective Date

Chapter effective Oct. 1, 1990, see section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 101–501, set out as an Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note under section 8621 of this title.

Short Title

Section 901 of title IX of Pub. L. 101–501 provided that: “This title [enacting this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Claude Pepper Young Americans Act of 1990’.”

Section 955 of Pub. L. 101–501 provided that: “This chapter [chapter 3 (§§955–960) of subtitle A of title IX of Pub. L. 101–501, enacting part C of subchapter I of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘Family Resource Act’.”

Section 981 of Pub. L. 101–501 provided that: “This subtitle [subtitle B (§§981–988) of title IX of Pub. L. 101–501, enacting subchapter II of this chapter] may be cited as the ‘1993 White House Conference on Children, Youth, and Families’.”

Commission on Child and Family Welfare

Pub. L. 102–521, §5, Oct. 25, 1992, 106 Stat. 3406, provided for establishment, membership, etc., of a Commission on Child and Family Welfare, specified that among other duties the Commission compile information and data on the issues that affect the best interests of children, including domestic issues such as abuse, family relations, services and agencies for children and families, family courts, and juvenile courts, directed Commission to submit to President and Congress an interim report no later than Jan. 1, 1994, and a final report no later than Jan. 1, 1995, containing a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission, together with recommendations for such legislation and administrative actions as considered appropriate, and directed that the Commission terminate 90 days after the date it submitted its final report.