18200. (Amended by Stats. 1965, Ch. 1949.)

The Legislature recognizes the necessity to improve the administration of public assistance so as to minimize dependency and reduce the total costs of public welfare services by restorative and preventive measures, and to expand protective services for children and adults. It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to provide state assistance to counties to encourage them to establish demonstration and experimental projects calculated to achieve the objectives stated in this section and to strengthen, extend, and improve public welfare services and their administration. It is also the intent of the Legislature to encourage and aid, within the limitations of this chapter, organizations of recipients to conduct demonstration and experimental projects designed to promote a more effective and efficient system of public aid and services. The Legislature intends to encourage the participation of individuals on public assistance to the fullest extent in the workings of the public welfare program and through this chapter hopes to provide a mechanism for organized groups of recipients to mobilize their resources and through concerted and cooperative action contribute to solutions to the economic, social and personal problems which tend to prolong dependency.