House Concurrent Resolution 12

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF MISSISSIPPI CHILDREN'S HOME SERVICES AND COMMENDING THEIR SERVICE AND DEDICATION TO MISSISSIPPI'S CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND RECOGNIZING JANUARY 25, 2012, AS MISSISSIPPI CHILDREN'S HOME SERVICES RECOGNITION DAY.

WHEREAS, Mississippi Children's Home Services, the largest and most comprehensive private not-for-profit provider of social and behavioral health services in the State of Mississippi, is proudly celebrating 100 years of continuous and compassionate service to children and families throughout the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, today, Mississippi Children's Home Society, CARES Center, Inc., and Mississippi Children's Home Services, Inc., collectively operate under the service mark of Mississippi Children's Home Services; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi Children's Home Services began as a statewide, private, nonprofit Home Finding and Adoption Agency on January 2, 1912, in Meridian, Mississippi, before relocating to Jackson in 1913; and

WHEREAS, for the first 70 years, Mississippi Children's Home Services responded to the social service needs of Mississippi's children through shelter care, foster care, adoption and maternity services; and

WHEREAS, in response to the emerging social service and behavioral health needs of Mississippi children, throughout the last 30 years, Mississippi Children's Home Services has expanded its range of programs and services to provide a continuum of psychiatric residential care, therapeutic foster care, therapeutic group home care, substance abuse residential and outpatient treatment, crisis shelter care, special education services, comprehensive community-based in-home services, family preservation and reunification services, wraparound services and peer-to-peer prevention services; and

WHEREAS, throughout its century of service, Mississippi Children's Home Services has consistently and proactively responded to the needs of Mississippi's children and families by creating new organizations, including: Mississippi's first home finding and adoption agency; Mississippi's first therapeutic group home; Mississippi's first residential treatment center for chemically dependent youth; Mississippi's first nonprofit psychiatric residential treatment facility for children and adolescents; Mississippi's first private, Mississippi-based, statewide program for family preservation and reunification; and Mississippi's first Mississippi-based, statewide in-home, community-based alternative to psychiatric residential treatment; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi Children's Home Services has been recognized as a leader through its selection for numerous local, state and national grants and awards to continue its work in providing services to Mississippi's most vulnerable children and families, including awards from United Way, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the American Red Cross, the Crittenton Foundation, the Child Welfare League of America and the Kresge Foundation; and

WHEREAS, in addition, Mississippi Children's Home Services has been acknowledged for its exceptional leadership through various management awards from the Mississippi Business Journal, Mississippi Center for Nonprofits and the United Way; and

WHEREAS, in its century of service, Mississippi Children's Home Services has been led by five venerable individuals tapped to serve as executive directors, each of whom has guided the operational services of the organization to touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of children and families from every county in the State of Mississippi, and is currently under the most capable and intrepid leadership of Christopher M. Cherney, who continues to promote the goals and objectives of Mississippi Children's Home Services by advancing its mission; and

WHEREAS, after 100 years, Mississippi Children's Home Services and its board of directors remain committed to a continued partnership with the children and families of the State of Mississippi, as well as with its public and private partners, volunteers, donors and staff, in order to maintain service excellence, produce meaningful outcomes, lead in best practices, and advocate for the ever-changing needs of Mississippi's children and families; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi Children's Home Services thoughtfully calls upon a new generation of Mississippians to serve our most needy children for the next 100 years and respectfully encourages all Mississippi corporations, foundations and individuals to continue their philanthropic efforts for the betterment of those in need; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of this Legislature to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippi organizations such as Mississippi Children's Home Services, which for 100 years has bettered the lives of the state's most vulnerable citizens and continuously strives to excel in serving and providing assistance to those Mississippians most in need:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby congratulate Mississippi Children's Home Services on its 100th anniversary and commend the board of directors, staff, volunteers, individual donors and foundation and corporate partners of Mississippi Children's Home Services for their dedication to improving the lives of Mississippi's children and families.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we do hereby recognize January 25, 2012, as Mississippi Children's Home Services Day and extend best wishes in support of this organization in its desire to help Mississippi's children and families.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That we do hereby also commend the selfless service provided by Christopher M. Cherney, who has for 33 years devoted his time and efforts to Mississippi Children's Home Services and the State of Mississippi which has facilitated an unprecedented growth and development of a comprehensive array of services and for championing the needs of Mississippi's children and families.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mississippi Children's Home Services and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.