HR0145 104TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0145 LRB104 12426 LAW 22721 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate Head Start on the occasion of its 60th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception in May 1965, Head Start has provided health, nutritional, educational, and social services for children from birth to age five; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois is now in its 60th year of implementing Head Start programming, supporting eligible children and their families in all 102 counties of the State; and

WHEREAS, The Head Start program has evolved into a nationwide force with the mission of meeting the emotional, social, health, nutritional, and educational needs of children in a community setting; and

WHEREAS, Children enrolled in Head Start and Early Head Start programs are more likely to have positive educational outcomes and improved social, emotional, and behavioral development; and

WHEREAS, To achieve these goals, Head Start supports family outcomes and well-being by promoting families as lifelong educators and learners and fostering positive parent-child relationships; and

WHEREAS, Head Start ensures that parent voices inform policy and believes that family engagement and participation throughout the program is key to strong child outcomes because parents and families are a child's first and most influential teachers and lifelong advocates; and

WHEREAS, Head Start is delivering medical, dental, and mental health screening, parenting resources, and other social and health services, in addition to necessary early education services, which prepare these children to compete with their peers with more resources; and

WHEREAS, Head Start connects and partners with local schools, local providers of child care, state and local preschool initiatives, and other community service providers to connect children and families with resources and opportunities to promote school readiness and positive outcomes; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate Head Start on its 60th anniversary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage all Illinoisans to recognize and support the dedicated leadership and staff in their communities that make Head Start possible and provide vital assistance to Illinoisans in need through educational, health, and family support services.