A variety of policy issues need to be considered when attempting to establish or maintain an interagency information-sharing program. A successful program requires political and monetary support from policymakers. In some instances, policymakers will need to sponsor legislation allowing interagency collaboration. In other instances, legislation will not be necessary but political support will be.

State-level efforts, legislative or otherwise, to create information-sharing networks must require or encourage a diverse group of youth-serving agencies (such as child welfare, mental health, juvenile justice, law enforcement, substance abuse, and health) to take the lead in forming interagency partnerships that meet the needs of each community. This State-level political support may be necessary to convince different agencies to begin to collaborate or to garner public support for such a system.

Policymakers can help ensure that the necessary financial resources are available to establish and maintain the interagency information-sharing program and that the policies and approaches chosen to support the system are having their intended effect. Finally, a policy issue that should be considered by those at both the State and local levels who are interested in information sharing is how agencies can use the system to prevent and reduce juvenile delinquency. Demonstrating the system's potential or actual effectiveness in dealing with at-risk and offending juveniles will help to earn the support of community members and potential agency participants in the program.