MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Senator(s) Stogner, Moffatt, Furniss

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING SYLVIA SESSIONS FOR HER WORK AS AN ADOPTION SPECIALIST FOR THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. 

WHEREAS, Sylvia Sessions, an adoption specialist for the Mississippi Department of Human Services, has recently been featured in a British television production concerning the Tylertown Adoption Picnic; and

WHEREAS, as an adoption specialist, Sylvia Sessions spearheads a number of the adoption picnics on the local level, attracting hundreds of people a year for each event; and

WHEREAS, her position at the Mississippi Department of Human Services is responsible for a 16-county territory regarding the recruitment, training and supervision of adoptive families; and

WHEREAS, among her many duties, Sylvia Sessions teaches group training, completes adoption studies, matches foster children freed for adoption with families, places children with adoptive families, and provides therapy to the adoptive children and families; and

WHEREAS, Sylvia Sessions began her social services career in 1978 as an eligibility worker for the Mississippi Department of Human Services, where she determined food stamp eligibility; and

WHEREAS, in 1982, Sylvia Sessions became a social worker for the department where she investigated adult abuse and neglect, was a youth court intake officer, and was a supervisor of the homemaker program and medicaid transportation program; and

WHEREAS, in addition to her current position as adoption specialist, Sylvia Sessions is a consultant for Southwest Mississippi Home Health for the elderly and disabled, and is a certified field instructor for the University of Southern Mississippi where she supervises bachelors and masters level students within the Mississippi Department of Human Services; and

WHEREAS, Sylvia Sessions holds a Masters of Social Work Degree from the University of Southern Mississippi, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Degree from Southeastern Louisiana University, and an Associate of Science Degree from Southwest Mississippi Junior College; and

WHEREAS, Sylvia Sessions has been bestowed with many awards, including being named an Outstanding Young Woman of America (1985, 1997) and being recognized for achieving the highest number of adoptions for the year of 1997; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Legislature to commend the exemplary service of its citizens:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Sylvia Sessions for her work as an adoption specialist for the Mississippi Department of Human Services.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution shall be furnished to Sylvia Sessions and be made available to the Capitol Press Corps.