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91_HR0204
LRB9106564SMdv
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, The U. S. Census taken in 1990 indicated that
3 the State of Illinois had 16,588 people identifying their
4 ethnicity as Native American/Alaskan Native and now, the most
5 current population estimates, adjusted for census
6 undercounting and population increases, indicate the Native
7 American/Alaskan Native population in Illinois at
8 approximately 24,000 people; and
9 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois currently has only one
10 specific healthcare agency in the entire State to serve this
11 population and that one agency has never received State
12 funding or assistance for specific Native American/Alaskan
13 Native health issues; and
14 WHEREAS, Studies indicate that Native American/Alaskan
15 Natives, in various cases, have higher rates of disabilities
16 than the general population, that they experience visual
17 impairments 3 times more frequently than the general
18 population, and that Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) affects a
19 much higher number of Native American babies than the general
20 population; and
21 WHEREAS, Native American/Alaskan Native children face
22 much greater risks of involuntary separation from their
23 families through foster care and adoption; and
24 WHEREAS, The high school dropout rate is higher among
25 Native American/Alaskan Natives than for other ethnic
26 minority groups; and
27 WHEREAS, The State of Illinois lags behind other states
28 in recognizing the specific needs of the Native
29 American/Alaskan Native population; therefore, be it
30 RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-
31 FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge
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1 the Governor and the Secretary of the Illinois Department of
2 Human Services to survey the needs of the Native
3 American/Alaskan Native population in the State of Illinois
4 and report back to the General Assembly no later than
5 December 31, 1999 with the results of that survey including a
6 plan of action to address the survey's findings; and be it
7 further
8 RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor and the Directors of
9 the Illinois Department on Aging, the Illinois Department of
10 Children and Family Services, the Illinois Department of
11 Public Aid, and the Illinois Department of Public Health to
12 also survey the needs of the Native American/Alaskan Native
13 population in the State of Illinois and report back to the
14 General Assembly no later than December 31, 1999 with the
15 results of the survey including a plan of action to address
16 the survey's findings; and be it further
17 RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor and the State
18 Superintendent of Education to assess the special education
19 needs of Native American/Alaskan Native children in the State
20 of Illinois and report back to the General Assembly no later
21 than December 31, 1999 with the results of the assessment
22 including a plan of action to address the assessment's
23 findings; and be it further
24 RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor to create a task
25 force, which includes representatives from the Illinois
26 Department of Human Services, the Illinois Department on
27 Aging, the Illinois Department of Children and Family
28 Services, the Illinois Department of Public Aid, the Illinois
29 Department of Public Health, the office of the State
30 Superintendent of Education, and an extensive cross-section
31 of Native Americans from various backgrounds, to assist in
32 the creation of the survey and to ensure that any agreed plan
33 of action is conducive to Native American/Alaskan Native
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1 people in the State of Illinois; and be it further
2 RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
3 delivered to the Governor, the Secretary of the Illinois
4 Department of Human Services, the Director of the Illinois
5 Department on Aging, the Director of the Illinois Department
6 of Children and Family Services, the Director of the Illinois
7 Department of Public Aid, the Director of the Illinois
8 Department of Public Health, and the State Superintendent of
9 Education.