HJ0053 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0053 LRB100 12507 MST 25467 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois General Assembly recognize that foster youth are some of the State's most precious, valuable, and vulnerable citizens; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Foster Care Alumni of America (FCAA) is to connect the alumni community and to transform policy and practice, ensuring opportunity for people in and from foster care; it seeks to serve and act on behalf of the rights, needs, and well-being of current and former foster youth; and

WHEREAS, FCAA-IL is one of 23 state chapters that the FCAA has around the country with members dedicated to its mission; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) protects children who are abused or neglected and tries to help their families safely care for them and provide for their well-being; they provide appropriate, permanent families as quickly as possible for those children who cannot safely return home; they support early intervention and child abuse prevention activities, and they work in partnerships with communities to fulfill this mission; and

WHEREAS, The services that DCFS provide include a Statewide Youth Advisory Board whose mission is to advocate and educate all youth in its care; the Statewide Youth Advisory Board is committed to youth empowerment, development, leadership, and achievement across the State of Illinois; and

WHEREAS, FCAA-IL, working together with DCFS and their Statewide Youth Advisory Board, are proud to host the second Annual Illinois Foster Youth and Alumni Legislative Shadow Day on May 10, 2017; and

WHEREAS, The purpose of this day is to connect current and former foster children with a state legislator to educate them on the legislative process; the legislators spend their day mentoring them and helping reshape the impression of who youth in foster care and alumni are; this process connects legislators to the youth that they impact directly and indirectly; and

WHEREAS, The actions of founding FCAA-IL members April Curtis, Jeremy Harvey, and James McIntyre, DCFS Director George Sheldon, and current and former DCFS Statewide Youth Advisory Board members represent shining examples of those in our communities doing positive things for foster children, past and present, and are responsible for the creation of the Annual Illinois Foster Youth and Alumni Legislative Shadow Day; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we recognize May 10, 2017 as the second Annual Illinois Foster Youth and Alumni Legislative Shadow Day and the dedication, hard work, and significant contributions to the well-being of current and former foster children; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to all participants in recognition of their efforts.