The law is based on awareness of the rapid increase in cases of child abuse and neglect in the last decade and the need for a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach that strengthens interagency cooperation; emphasizes the need for prevention, investigation, and treatment at the neighborhood level; and is sensitive to ethnic and cultural diversity. It emphasizes that national policy should both strengthen families, provide intensive services to prevent the unnecessary removal of children from families, and promote the reunification of families if removal has taken place. Individual sections of the law focus on the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, the national information clearinghouse, grants to public agencies and nonprofit private organizations for demonstration or service programs and projects, technical assistance to States for prevention and treatment programs, and program coordination. Prevention grants and preventive services related to homeless families or families at risk of homelessness are also covered.