HR0497

LRB096 12673 GRL 27707 r






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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to honor Dr. Robert Bloom for his 
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many achievements and his retirement as Executive Director of 
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Jewish Child and Family Services of Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He grew up in Chicago's Logan Square and graduated 
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from Avondale Elementary School and Carl Schurz High School 
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with honors; Dr. Bloom holds a Bachelor of Science degree from 
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the University of Chicago, a Master's of Arts degree from 
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Northeastern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. from the 
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University of Minnesota; and he has completed specialized 
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training in various related fields at Columbia and Harvard 
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Universities; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Bloom is the Executive Director of the 
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Jewish Child and Family Services of Chicago (a two-year old 
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merger of the Jewish Children's Bureau and the Jewish Family 
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and Community Service); for over 30 years, he has worked as a 
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teacher, therapist, consultant, program director, and 
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executive administrator in the fields of educational and 
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psychological services to children with disabilities and their 
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families; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He has taught many courses on child development 
 


 






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and childhood psychopathology; he has had many works published, 
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most recently on risk management topics such as institutional 
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child sexual abuse, the malpractice risks of working in a 
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managed behavioral health care system, and the management of 
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residential treatment centers; and
 

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    WHEREAS, Before becoming the Executive Director at the 
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Jewish Children's Bureau, Dr. Bloom was Chairman of Special 
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Education at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, where 
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he developed the nation's first special education program that 
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included working with families of children with disabilities; 
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he integrated work with families and work with children as the 
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Director of Residential Treatment at Bellefaire/Jewish 
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Children's Bureau in Cleveland, Ohio; former  President Carter 
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appointed Dr. Bloom as a consultant, representing families with 
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disabled members, to the White House Conference on Families; 
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and United States Department of Human Services Secretary 
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Thompson appointed Dr. Bloom to the steering committee for 
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Adopt US Kids; and

 
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    WHEREAS, He has been a Chicago Cubs fan since he was nine 
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years old; Ernie Banks was and is his hero and his favorite 
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professional athlete; he has an autographed baseball and photo 
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that says "to Bob, Let's Play Two, Ernie" that is one of his  
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most treasured possessions; and
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, There is no Hebrew word for retirement, because we 
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all should continue learning and mentoring after our management 
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careers end; Dr. Bloom is continuing on as a social work 
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instructor, helping to prepare a new generation of caring human 
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service professionals; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate the beloved Dr. Bloom for his many achievements 
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and his upcoming retirement and wish him continued success in 
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his future endeavors; and be it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Dr. Robert Bloom as a symbol of our respect.