PURPOSE VS. POWER: PARENSPATRIAE AND AGENCY SELF-INTEREST

PURPOSE VS. POWER: PARENSPATRIAE AND 
AGENCY SELF-INTEREST 

Agencies that exist to serve also seek to exist. The purpose of state
human service agencies to serve vulnerable populations such as abused
and neglected children derives from the common law doctrine of parens
palriae. embodying the inherent role of the state as parent of the country? The doctrine provides the foundation for the very existence of agencies that serve vulnerable children and underlies the core purpose of the
agencies to promote and protect children's welfare and best interests:'

"In the end, it is not complicated. Agencies created with the sole purpose of serving the best interests of vulnerable children should only use their power to serve that goal."