Sec. 531.003. GOALS. The commission's goals are to:

(1) maximize federal funds through the efficient use of available state and local resources;

(2) provide a system that delivers prompt, comprehensive, effective services to the people of this state by:

(A) improving access to health and human services at the local level; and

(B) eliminating architectural, communications, programmatic, and transportation barriers;

(3) promote the health of the people of this state by:

(A) reducing the incidence of disease and disabling conditions;

(B) increasing the availability of health care services;

(C) improving the quality of health care services;

(D) addressing the high incidence of certain illnesses and conditions of minority populations;

(E) increasing the availability of trained health care professionals;

(F) improving knowledge of health care needs;

(G) reducing infant death and disease;

(H) reducing the impact of mental disorders in adults;

(I) reducing the impact of emotional disturbances in children;

(J) increasing participation in nutrition programs;

(K) increasing nutritional education; and

(L) reducing substance abuse;

(4) foster the development of responsible, productive, and self-sufficient citizens by:

(A) improving workforce skills;

(B) increasing employment, earnings, and benefits;

(C) increasing housing opportunities;

(D) increasing child-care and other dependent-care services;

(E) improving education and vocational training to meet specific career goals;

(F) reducing school dropouts;

(G) reducing teen pregnancy;

(H) improving parental effectiveness;

(I) increasing support services for people with disabilities;

(J) increasing services to help people with disabilities maintain or increase their independence;

(K) improving access to work sites, accommodations, transportation, and other public places and activities covered by the federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.); and

(L) improving services to juvenile offenders;

(5) provide needed resources and services to the people of this state when they cannot provide or care for themselves by:

(A) increasing support services for adults and their families during periods of unemployment, financial need, or homelessness;

(B) reducing extended dependency on basic support services; and

(C) increasing the availability and diversity of long-term care provided to support people with chronic conditions in settings that focus on community-based services with options ranging from their own homes to total-care facilities;

(6) protect the physical and emotional safety of all the people of this state by:

(A) reducing abuse, neglect, and exploitation of elderly people and adults with disabilities;

(B) reducing child abuse and neglect;

(C) reducing family violence;

(D) increasing services to truants and runaways, children at risk of truancy or running away, and their families;

(E) reducing crime and juvenile delinquency;

(F) reducing community health risks; and

(G) improving regulation of human services providers; and

(7) improve the coordination and delivery of children's services.

Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 76, Sec. 8.002(a), eff. Sept. 1, 1995.