HR0845 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0845 LRB103 41003 LAW 74112 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to recognize Michele "Mickey" Haldeman on her commitment to foster care through her work with SOS Children's Villages Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Founded over 30 years ago, SOS Children's Villages Illinois is an award-winning, non-profit organization that strives to keep siblings together while providing an individual licensed home in a supportive, community environment that marshals all the resources needed to help at-risk youth in foster care heal and achieve their permanency goals; the non-profit currently operates four sites, three Villages that provide sibling group foster care, located in Lockport and the Auburn Gresham and the Roosevelt Square Community neighborhoods of Chicago, and the Casa Tepeyac facility that offers preventative and in-home services, which is located in the Back of the Yards neighborhood of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Mickey Haldeman was the very first foster parent to serve SOS Children's Villages Illinois; her journey began with a deep-seated love for children, first manifested through babysitting and later while working as a daycare director; she joined SOS Children's Villages after responding to an advertisement for a foster parent position with the organization in Wisconsin; and

WHEREAS, For over three decades, Mickey Haldeman has served as a caregiver to over 40 children, adopting two of her own; she has operated out of the organization's Lockport Village, where she has raised many children from infancy to adulthood; as trends in foster care have progressed towards a model of permanency, she has continued her work as a nurturer of sibling groups and as a leader within the organization's community; and

WHEREAS, Mickey Haldeman has brought stability and love to the children in her care through her unwavering commitment to foster care, and the nurturing environment she has established has allowed these children to heal, grow, and thrive; and

WHEREAS, Mickey Haldeman's dedication and compassionate approach have profoundly impacted the lives of many children, and she has been noted for exuding understanding and patience in the course of her duties as a foster parent; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Michele "Mickey" Haldeman on her commitment to foster care through her work with SOS Children's Villages Illinois, and we thank her for her continued service in caring for at-risk children in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Mickey Haldeman as an expression of our esteem and respect.