Coordinated and comprehensive plan for children and families

In a bipartisan effort in 1999, the Oregon Legislature passed a nationally hailed approach to prevention - Senate Bill 555. SB 555 requires all 36 counties in the state to prepare a "coordinated comprehensive plan" for children and their families, and to do so in a manner that involves citizens, service providers and consumers in a collaborative decisionmaking process that sets local priorities and approaches. The bill specifies that, at a minimum, local plans must address: 1. crime prevention strategies for high-risk youth, 2. alcohol and other drug prevention and treatment, and 3. a system of supports for young children to ensure they are healthy, well-supported and ready-to-learn when they enter school. In addition to progress on the process of integrating and coordinating state and local services, significant progress has been made in reducing the poor outcomes for children and their families.