---
type: "LegalText"
title: "42 U.S.C. § 12331"
description: "Purpose"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 42
title_name: "THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE"
chapter_number: "127"
chapter_name: "COORDINATED SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES"
section: "12331"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12331"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc42@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t42/s12331"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-42/usc42.xml"
source_hash: "895d007895cb4828f49078c31c59484914c7119cb49e05857f9f5c2b6031f9d7"
raw_snapshot_hash: "644321055a08eb1f260a6a3e31ac157fa024756abf612a9fd6857e7e400cf24e"
text_hash: "fe4d02751a66991530fcf607437745e31ef44c9fb805054bd2d3ca1a043cab33"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 42 U.S.C. § 12331 - Purpose

## Text

It is the purpose of this part to encourage and assist State and local agencies to coordinate resources, reduce barriers to services, and develop new capacities to ensure that State and community services designed to serve children, youth, and families are more effective and comprehensive.

(Pub. L. 101–501, title IX, § 925, Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1268.)

## Notes

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective DateSection effective Oct. 1, 1990, see section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 101–501, set out as an Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note under section 8621 of this title.