HR1139 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1139 LRB094 20166 HSS 57958 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Baby TALK (Teaching Activities for Learning and Knowledge) celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year; and

WHEREAS, Baby TALK is a state model which serves every family with a child from birth to age three, providing information, encouragement, children's books, and activities; its mission is to positively impact child development and nurture healthy parent-child relationships during the critical early years; and

WHEREAS, Established in 1986 by Founding Executive Director Claudia Quigg, Baby TALK, Inc., is a non-profit organization committed to a collaborative model, working together with community hospitals, schools, libraries, health clinics, and literacy programs to deliver services that are accessible and relevant to families' needs; this includes going where the parents already are, including health care providers, human services agencies, neighborhoods, and homes; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Baby TALK first raised the money to begin visiting parents of newborns in local hospitals, and in 1989, the organization began training professionals including teachers, librarians, social workers, and nurses; in 1996, Baby TALK became one of three pilots for Harvard Children's Hospital's Touchpoints program started by T. Berry Brazelton, and local Touchpoints training began; in 1997, Baby TALK staff began teaching early childhood courses at Millikin University; and

WHEREAS, By 2004, Baby TALK in the Decatur area had served families of approximately 25,200 newborns; and

WHEREAS, Some of the reasons Baby TALK has been so successful are the outstanding services to families delivered in a unique outreach service delivery; the integrated collaboration with other professionals and organizations that serve young families; an individualized approach to family needs; and the diverse population that is served; in addition, Baby TALK uses a unique approach to literacy that supports parents and children in developmentally appropriate ways; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize the twentieth anniversary of Baby TALK, and we applaud the efforts of all those involved in providing such valuable services; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Baby TALK as an expression of our esteem and gratitude.