"Societies prosper not by the grace of governments, but by continuing cycles of goodness, generated by the people themselves." -- Governor Mike Leavitt

Government alone cannot solve child abuse, poverty, juvenile crime, and the breakup of families. These are deep, structural, social problems. Part of the solution lies in the combination of individual responsibility and strong family life. What is individual responsibility? It's families taking care of each other so that government's role is limited. It's parents sitting down to help children do their homework, giving structure and setting expectations. It's a divorced mom and dad who still work together to meet their children's needs. It's a single mom who does double duty parenting day in and day out to raise her children. It's a father who pays monthly child support or assumes custody of a child. It's a family that adopts a child, or takes in foster children. It's neighborhoods and communities and churches working together to overcome problems.

Government clearly has a role in these areas too. Where other than government would we assign the awful decision of terminating the parental rights of a mother or father that abuse or neglect their baby? Society needs a way of caring for these people. In every society and culture a small percentage of people need this kind of help.

Everyone working together - government, communities and individuals - can help us strengthen families and foster self-reliance for all Utahns.