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COUNTY ~OMMISSIONEP~S AND COUNTY TASK FORCES Local control of program development and operation is central both in the · intent of HB 456 and in the philosophy of the Co~unity~Based Alternative Section. The drafters of HB 456 envisioned pi'arming efforts for community.based programs including ,,appropriate representation from local gove~nmentt local agencies serving families and children (bo~n public and private), local business lea~ers, citizens with an interest in.youth problems, youth representatives, and others as may be appropriate in a particular co.unity". The Board of County Commissioners is faced with several tasks in relation to HB 456. First they must decide, if their county wishes to participate in the community-based program effort: Following their decision to participate, the County Co~issioners are requested to appoint a local Task Force made up of such professional service providers and interested private.citizens as those mentioned ir the preceeding paragraph. The local Task Force acting in an adjunctive capacity to the County Co~nis- sioners is intended to utilize the professional expertise within each county in addressing the needs of juvenile offenaers in their own county, Having the Task Forces appointed by and working through their County Conm~issioners recognizes the merits of having locally elected officials approve the spending of any public funds and offers local government the opportunity to plan and control both state and local funds in addressing the problem of delinquency treatment and prevention. A major role of.the Task Force in each county will be to conduct a continuing assessment of youth needs in the county with annual updates to the Secretary of Human Resources. The long range goal of the Con~nunity-Based Alternative program in North Carolina is to develop a continum of services available to juveniles in every county so that appropriate treatment alternatives will always be available. With locally based Task Forces assessing the needs and planning the programs within each county supported by a small staff of consultants at the State level to pro- mote inter-county and inter-agency coordination, a state-wide system.of co.unity .~.f.services can be developed that will channel state, local, and federal funds into 'direct service delivery activity.