The General Assembly declares that: minor children are not capable of protecting themselves; and when a parent has relinquished the care of the parent’s minor child to others, there is a possibility of certain risks to the child that require compensating measures. It is the policy of this State: to protect minor children whose care has been relinquished to others by the children’s parent; to resolve doubts in favor of the child when there is a conflict between the interests of a minor child and the interests of an adult; and to encourage the development of child care services for minor children in a safe, healthy, and homelike environment.