HR1504

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


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

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Families are strong and successful when they live 
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in communities that connect them to economic opportunities, 
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educational supports, social networks, and community services; 
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and
 
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    WHEREAS, Illinois is blessed with a multitude of families 
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that include more than 16,000 Department of Children and Family 
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Services wards who count on the State of Illinois as their 
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parent and who must rely on foster parents, grandparents, 
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aunts, other relatives, or residential caregivers for their 
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family life;

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

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


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


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

and
 
 


 






HR1504
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LRB094 21936 KXB 60411 r




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    WHEREAS, The children who count on Illinois to be their 
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parent must be able to count on sound and sophisticated 
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policies and adequately funded services to ensure their well 
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being and future success; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Parents who count on Illinois for vital support 
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services for their children must be able to count on State 
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policymakers to ensure program and funding support to build and 
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maintain family and community connections; therefore, be it

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

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