(1) The legislature intends that prevention and intervention services delivered to children and juveniles in the areas of mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice be primarily evidence-based and research-based, and it is anticipated that such services will be provided in a manner that is culturally competent.

(2) The legislature also acknowledges that baseline information is not presently available regarding the extent to which evidence-based and research-based practices are presently available and in use in the areas of children’s mental health, child welfare, and juvenile justice; the cost of those practices; and the most effective strategies and appropriate time frames for expecting their broader use. Thus, it would be wise to establish baseline data regarding the use and availability of evidence-based and research-based practices.

(3) It is the intent of the legislature that increased use of evidence-based and research-based practices be accomplished to the extent possible within existing resources by coordinating the purchase of evidence-based services, the development of a trained workforce, and the development of unified and coordinated case plans to provide treatment in a coordinated and consistent manner.

(4) The legislature recognizes that in order to effectively provide evidence-based and research-based practices, contractors should have a workforce trained in these programs, and outcomes from the use of these practices should be monitored.