Illinois § 2

§ 2.

Purpose. The legislature finds that families and family structures have changed dramatically, and many families are suffering because of the stresses and strains of economic demands. Many families are at high risk of becoming fragmented and dysfunctional, and a substantial number will be trapped in a cycle of poverty unless existing support systems designed to intervene and assist them in times of need are vastly improved. Under the present system of services to families, families are required to be in trouble or dysfunctional before they can become eligible to receive services and assistance. In order to reach out to families and successfully assist them, support services should be coordinated and provided in a community-based setting. These community-based centers should be responsive to and involved with the communities in which they are located to the extent that the communities feel a strong sense of ownership of and identification with the centers. In addition, the overall atmosphere of the facility, as well as the attitude of the staff, should project compassion, understanding, friendliness, and patience. The purpose of this Act is to establish a family support center demonstration project to demonstrate the effectiveness of a community-based family support center concept, and to test different models of service delivery. (Source: P.A. 87-678.)