HR1504 LRB094 21936 KXB 60411 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, National Family Week, November 19-25, 2006,
3 celebrates that strong families are at the center of strong
4 communities and children lead better lives when their families
5 are strong; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Families are strong and successful when they live
7 in communities that connect them to economic opportunities,
8 educational supports, social networks, and community services;
9 and
 
10     WHEREAS, Illinois is blessed with a multitude of families
11 that include more than 16,000 Department of Children and Family
12 Services wards who count on the State of Illinois as their
13 parent and who must rely on foster parents, grandparents,
14 aunts, other relatives, or residential caregivers for their
15 family life; and
 
16     WHEREAS, More than 8,000 foster parents and relatives count
17 on State support to help them provide loving homes and a stable
18 family environment for foster children; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Approximately 880 adolescents rely on help from
20 the Department of Children and Family Services to live
21 independently as they transition out of State protective care;
22 and
 
23     WHEREAS, More than 1,400 children under the jurisdiction of
24 the Department of Juvenile Justice count on assistance from the
25 State to transition back to community life and into adulthood;
26 and
 
27     WHEREAS, New and permanent families are being created by
28 parents who have adopted State wards and rely upon support
29 services to address the special needs of their families; and
 

 

 

HR1504 - 2 - LRB094 21936 KXB 60411 r

1     WHEREAS, The children who count on Illinois to be their
2 parent must be able to count on sound and sophisticated
3 policies and adequately funded services to ensure their well
4 being and future success; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Parents who count on Illinois for vital support
6 services for their children must be able to count on State
7 policymakers to ensure program and funding support to build and
8 maintain family and community connections; therefore, be it
 
9     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
10 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
11 we recognize and support National Family Week and encourage
12 lawmakers, State policymakers, and all Illinois citizens to
13 support the principles of National Family Week throughout the
14 year; and be it further
 
15     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
16 presented to the Child Care Association of Illinois.