HR0210LRB101 11643 MST 57863 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives recognize that foster youth and alumni are some
4of the State's most precious, valuable, and vulnerable
5citizens; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The mission of the Foster Care Alumni of America
7(FCAA) is to connect the alumni community and to transform
8policy and practice, ensuring opportunity for people in and
9from foster care; it seeks to serve and act on behalf of the
10rights, needs, and well-being of current and former foster
11youth; and
 
12    WHEREAS, FCAA-IL is one of 23 state chapters that the FCAA
13has around the country with members dedicated to its mission;
14and
 
15    WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Children and Family
16Services (DCFS) protects children who are reported to be abused
17or neglected; it works to increase their families' capacity to
18safely care for them and provides for the well-being of
19children in DCFS care; they provide appropriate, permanent
20families as quickly as possible for those children who cannot
21safely return home; they support early intervention and child
22abuse prevention activities, and they work in partnerships with

 

 

HR0210- 2 -LRB101 11643 MST 57863 r

1communities to fulfill this mission; and
 
2    WHEREAS, The services that DCFS provides include a
3Statewide Youth Advisory Board whose mission is to advocate and
4educate all youth in care; the Statewide Youth Advisory Board
5is committed to youth empowerment, development, leadership,
6and achievement across the State of Illinois;; and
 
7    WHEREAS, FCAA-IL, working together with DCFS and their
8Statewide Youth Advisory Board, are proud to host the fourth
9Annual Illinois Foster Youth and Alumni Legislative Shadow Day
10on May 15, 2019; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The purpose of this day is to connect current and
12former foster children with a State legislator to educate them
13on the legislative process; the legislators spend their day
14mentoring them; this process helps reshape the impression of
15who youth in foster care and alumni are and connects
16legislators to the youth that they impact directly and
17indirectly; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The actions of founding FCAA-IL Chapter President
19James McIntyre, National Board Chair April Curtis, and current
20and former DCFS Statewide Youth Advisory Board members
21represent shining examples of those in our communities doing
22positive things for foster children, past and present, and are

 

 

HR0210- 3 -LRB101 11643 MST 57863 r

1responsible for the creation of the Annual Illinois Foster
2Youth and Alumni Legislative Shadow Day; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
4HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
5we declare May 15, 2019 as the fourth Annual Illinois Foster
6Youth and Alumni Legislative Shadow Day and acknowledge the
7dedication, hard work, and significant contributions made to
8the well-being of current and former foster children; and be it
9further
 
10    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
11presented to all participants in recognition of their efforts.