Vision Statement
Los Angeles County children should reach adulthood having experienced a safe, healthy and nurturing childhood which prepares them to become responsible and contributing members of the community.
Operational Vision
This vision demands that there be developed in Los Angeles County, a collaborative network of systems that work in concert to support and strengthen the capacity of families to provide for their children's growth and development.
This integrated network will reflect the following guiding principles:
- An economically viable and emotionally secure family, reinforced by a supportive community, is the best place to meet the needs of children and adolescents.
- Children need a continuum of services that is capable of responding to their unique needs and family situation.
- Systems should provide prevention and early intervention as well as remediation.
- The lives of the children--not the existence of the agency or system--must be paramount.
- The diverse and multicultural nature of the neighborhoods and populations in Los Angeles County demands great flexibility in the systems and in their responsiveness to the various communities.
- Systems and agencies must ensure equitable responsiveness and flexibility to address the needs of all communities.
- Intersystem communication and linkages must be ensured at all levels.
- Systems must be held accountable for improving the lives of children and families. Desired outcomes must be specified and results measured and evaluated.
- The systems should be user-friendly, easily accessible, understandable, and have a warm, human face.
- The systems and agencies must understand the fact that everyone must give up a little so that the children can gain a lot.
