SENATE RESOLUTION 17

(By Senators Azinger, Plymale, Boso, Rucker, Stollings, Beach and Cline)

[Introduced February 21, 2017]

Designating February 21, 2017, as West Virginia Child Care Association—Celebrating Children and Families Day at the Legislature.

Whereas, The State of West Virginia and the West Virginia Child Care Association have some of the best child welfare professionals and agencies in the country. These child welfare professionals and agencies have dedicated their time to making life better for West Virginia’s children and families and these West Virginian professionals and agencies have a compassion that never ends, a hope for a better tomorrow and a dedication to their efforts over the long haul.  They work with West Virginia’s child welfare and behavioral health stakeholders to eliminate policy barriers and day to day practices that reduce the effective utilization of in-state resources; and

Whereas, These professionals and agencies are regulated by the State of West Virginia through legislation and by oversight of the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and Department of Education. By using West Virginian child welfare professionals and agencies our State is doing what is best for West Virginia’s children and their families. These West Virginia child care professionals and agencies advocate for, and deliver services and support to provide for, the safety, wellbeing and opportunities for children and families to achieve their hopes, dreams and goals. They provide family driven, youth guided, culturally competent and trauma informed care for the citizens of West Virginia; and

Whereas, The West Virginia professionals, who care for the at-risk children in our state and the organizations that exist to impact the lives of these children and their families, provide quality care in our communities. This quality care is provided in a variety of settings, including community agencies, hospitals, residential treatment, family and treatment foster care and educational institutions, and seeks to provide resources and guidance that promotes the safety, wellbeing and permanency of West Virginia’s children and families.  West Virginia’s child welfare providers dedicate themselves to excellence in their profession through licensing, advocacy, education and professional development; and

Whereas, The West Virginia Senate recognizes and appreciates the outstanding dedication, devotion and care of the West Virginia Child Care Association professionals and agencies for their caring, commitment and for making a difference in the lives of children in the State of West Virginia, their families and communities; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby designates February 21, 2017, as West Virginia Child Care Association—Celebrating Children and Families Day at the Legislature; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to all the appropriate officials, including those representing the West Virginia Child Care Association.