SJ0054 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0054 LRB096 12070 GRL 24076 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The overall health and welfare of people with developmental disabilities is of utmost importance; and

WHEREAS, Like the general population, many individuals with developmental disabilities struggle with obesity, diabetes, and hypertension; and

WHEREAS, Certain developmental disabilities have been found to predispose individuals to health conditions such as obesity; and

WHEREAS, A recent randomized study of residents of community-based residential programs in Illinois found that 57% of the residents met the classification of overweight or obese; and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has cited the Body Mass Index as a reliable indicator of obesity, calculated from a person's height and weight, and revealed the prevalence of obesity in approximately 34.3% of adults in 2005-2006; and

WHEREAS, The 2002 report of the Surgeon General's conference on health disparities and mental retardation, "Closing the Gap: A National Blueprint to Improve the Health of Persons with Mental Retardation", found that the health of approximately one-third of individuals with mental retardation is reported to be fair or poor; and

WHEREAS, The lack of access to preventative health care and good nutrition can lead to poor quality of life and increases in illness, medication usage, instances of social isolation, and other healthcare issues; and

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois funds services to persons with developmental disabilities in various residential settings; and

WHEREAS, Such residential programs strive to provide quality services that promote individuals' general health and well-being; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that we affirm our commitment to the importance of supporting and improving health outcomes for people with developmental disabilities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge all providers to adopt preventative health practices and work with those they serve to ultimately improve health outcomes; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage the Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities to develop health related outcomes and standards as part of its quality management and monitoring efforts.