HR1504 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1504 LRB094 21936 KXB 60411 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, National Family Week, November 19-25, 2006, celebrates that strong families are at the center of strong communities and children lead better lives when their families are strong; and

WHEREAS, Families are strong and successful when they live in communities that connect them to economic opportunities, educational supports, social networks, and community services; and

WHEREAS, Illinois is blessed with a multitude of families that include more than 16,000 Department of Children and Family Services wards who count on the State of Illinois as their parent and who must rely on foster parents, grandparents, aunts, other relatives, or residential caregivers for their family life; and

WHEREAS, More than 8,000 foster parents and relatives count on State support to help them provide loving homes and a stable family environment for foster children; and

WHEREAS, Approximately 880 adolescents rely on help from the Department of Children and Family Services to live independently as they transition out of State protective care; and

WHEREAS, More than 1,400 children under the jurisdiction of the Department of Juvenile Justice count on assistance from the State to transition back to community life and into adulthood; and

WHEREAS, New and permanent families are being created by parents who have adopted State wards and rely upon support services to address the special needs of their families; and

WHEREAS, The children who count on Illinois to be their parent must be able to count on sound and sophisticated policies and adequately funded services to ensure their well being and future success; and

WHEREAS, Parents who count on Illinois for vital support services for their children must be able to count on State policymakers to ensure program and funding support to build and maintain family and community connections; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize and support National Family Week and encourage lawmakers, State policymakers, and all Illinois citizens to support the principles of National Family Week throughout the year; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Child Care Association of Illinois.