The Santa Cruz County Children's Network was established in 1991 by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and is authorized by 18986.10 of the Welfare and Institutions Code as the Interagency Children's Council for Santa Cruz County.

The mission of the Children's Network is to improve opportunities for young people and their families. It is the intent of the Children's Network to encourage the development of a comprehensive and collaborative delivery system of services to children and youth. That system shall:

• Emphasize preventive and early intervention services.

• Allow for flexible expenditures of public funds.

• Provide for a continuum of family-centered, child-focused services through public/private partnerships that:

• Minimize duplicate systems.

• Identify gaps in services.

• Provide case management services to children and families with multiple need.

• Involve school districts in the planning and delivery of services for children.

• Respond to the needs of the Latino population.

The Children's Network bylaws require that the Network shall develop a three-year strategic plan.

The Network's plan shall address:

• Use of existing service capabilities
• Interagency collaboration
• An effective case management system
• Estimates of cost benefits and cost avoidance of the program plan
• Objective measures of program effectiveness.

Santa Cruz County Children's Network