MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1999 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representative Robinson (84th)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING MS. BECKY MATHIS FOR BEING NAMED THE CHILD ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR.

WHEREAS, Ms. Becky Mathis was named the Child Advocate of the Year at the Bayview Hotel and Convention Center during the 1998 State Children's Conference; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Mathis, currently President of the Mississippi Foster and Adoptive Parents Association, was presented the Advocate of the Year Award for her leadership in helping foster and adoptive children and their families; and

WHEREAS, drawing from her personal life experiences, Ms. Mathis fulfilled her lifetime dream of working with children and helping people who are in need and hurting; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Mathis gained national attention when she drafted legislation that mandated family preservation projects to keep natural families together in lieu of children entering the child welfare system; and

WHEREAS, since 1992, Ms. Mathis has served on several advisory boards to the Mississippi Legislature and the Mississippi Department of Human Services in an effort to represent the grassroots of Mississippi, and she currently serves on the Council of States for Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in September 1997, Ms. Mathis organized the first nationally recognized statewide foster and adoptive parents association to provide training, education, public awareness and emotional support to thousands of foster and adoptive families, social workers and child welfare workers in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Ms. Mathis led the national delegation to Washington, D.C., in January 1999, as Chair of the Legislation Committee for the National Foster Parent Association to assist in drafting national legislation addressing the needs of families and children; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and pay special tribute to outstanding Mississippians such as Ms. Becky Mathis, who has dedicated her untiring efforts to meet the needs of the children and parents in this state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Ms. Becky Mathis for being named the Child Advocate of the Year and extend to her our heartiest wishes for success in all her future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Ms. Becky Mathis and to members of the Capitol Press Corps.