Section 40-15-4 - Parental and state responsibilities.
40-15-4. Parental and state responsibilities.
A. Parents have joint primary responsibility for the well-being of their family. Parents have the primary responsibility to:
(1) ensure that their children have adequate food, shelter, health care and a healthy environment;
(2) support their children in all ways possible to grow up to be responsible, caring members of society;
(3) ensure that their children receive quality education both in and out of school to prepare them for active and productive adult lives;
(4) protect their children from the serious dangers of narcotics, alcohol and other harmful substances; and
(5) protect their children from all forms of exploitation harmful to any aspect of their welfare.
B. The state has a responsibility to develop plans to:
(1) make available to families free, quality public primary and secondary education;
(2) provide public safety services so that family members are safe in their homes, schools, workplaces and recreational settings;
(3) make available social service programs that support vulnerable families and protect spouses and children in danger of physical or serious emotional harm;
(4) develop programs that build on the strengths of families and connect them with community resources;
(5) provide parents with access to the training and support they need to raise their children, function effectively as parents and play a key role in helping preschool and growing children learn; and
(6) assist parents in carrying out their primary responsibility of providing for the well-being of their family.