§ 42-7.2-1 - Statement of intent.
SECTION 42-7.2-1
§ 42-7.2-1 Statement of intent. – The purpose of this Chapter is to develop a consumer-centered system ofpublicly-financed state administered health and human services that supportsaccess to high quality services, protects the safety of the state's mostvulnerable citizens, and ensures the efficient use of all available resourcesby the five (5) departments responsible for the health and human servicesprograms serving all Rhode Islanders and providing direct assistance andsupport services to more than 250,000 individuals and families: the departmentof children, youth, and families; the department of elderly affairs; thedepartment of health; the department of human services; and the department ofmental health, retardation and hospitals, collectively referred to within as"departments". It is recognized that the executive office of health and humanservices and the departments have undertaken a variety of initiatives tofurther this goal and that they share a commitment to continue to work inconcert to preserve and promote each other's unique missions while striving toattain better outcomes for all the people and communities they serve. However,recent and expected changes in federal and state policies and fundingpriorities that affect the financing, organization, and delivery of health andhuman services programs pose new challenges and opportunities that have createdan even greater need for structured and formal interdepartmental cooperationand collaboration. To meet this need while continuing to build on theachievements that have already been made, the interests of all Rhode Islanderswill best be served by codifying in the state's general laws the purposes andresponsibilities of the executive office of health and human services and theposition of secretary of health and human services.