House Concurrent Resolution 38

(As Adopted by House)

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING JANUARY 29, 2014, 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, has proudly provided over 100 years of continuous and compassionate service to children and families throughout the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi Children's Home Services began as a statewide, private, not-for-profit Home Finding and Adoption Agency on January 2, 1912; 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 programs, 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 not-for-profit psychiatric residential treatment facility for children and adolescents; Mississippi's first private, Mississippi-based, statewide program for family preservation and reunification; Mississippi's first Mississippi-based, statewide in-home, community-based alternative to psychiatric residential treatment; and Mississippi's first and only community-based early intervention program for children on the Autism spectrum; 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, through its unique approach to serving children and adolescents, is effectively caring for the mental health needs of children, youth and families in our community; and

WHEREAS, Mississippi Children's Home Services thoughtfully calls upon a new generation of Mississippians to serve our most vulnerable children for this generation and future generations 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 over 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 commend Mississippi Children's Home Services, its 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 29, 2014, 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 copies of this resolution be furnished to Mississippi Children's Home Services and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.