2014 -- H 8160

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LC005665

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING AND EXTENDING SINCERE APPRECIATION TO RIGHT NOW

FOR KIDS AND THEIR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS FOR ALL THAT THEY DO TO

KEEP CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SAFE AND HEALTHY

     Introduced By: Representatives Abney, Ruggiero, Diaz, Bennett, and Hull

     Date Introduced: May 08, 2014

     Referred To: House read and passed

     (by request)

     WHEREAS, May 8, 2014, is National Children's Mental Health Awareness Day. Rhode

Island joins the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 1100

communities across the nation, and the more than 130 collaborating organizations to celebrate

this year’s theme of "Inspiring Resilience, Creating Hope"; and

     WHEREAS, The nationwide strategy is focused on the importance of caring for every

child's mental health from birth and has been embraced by providers right here in Rhode Island;

and

     WHEREAS, RIght Now for Kids, a coalition of child welfare and behavioral health

providers with firsthand experience working with at-risk children and families here in the Ocean

State, has been formed to advocate in support of abused, neglected, dependent and at-risk

children in our state and to help bring the needs of the child welfare and children's behavioral

health system to the forefront of the public and policy agenda; and

     WHEREAS, RIght Now for Kids believes in interagency collaboration, individualized,

strengths-based care practices, cultural competence, community-based services, accountability,

and full participation of families and youth at all levels of the system; and

     WHEREAS, RIght Now for Kids believes that providing community-based programs and

wraparound care will increase the quality of care for youth and families and decrease the number

of children who enter congregate care as well as decrease child welfare costs in the long term;

and

     WHEREAS, RIght Now for Kids is hosting its first "Children’s Mental Health

Awareness Advocacy Day" on May 8, 2014; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations cares deeply about the welfare of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable children

and families. We furthermore recognize the work of RIght Now for Kids as they raise public and

policy awareness and support for children and families, advocate for the effective and efficient

use of resources and continued investment in the child welfare system, improve communication

and coordination between child welfare advocates and service providers, and work to evaluate

outcomes and performance across the child welfare system in our state; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives hereby extends sincere appreciation and

congratulations to RIght Now for Kids and their member organizations for all that they do to keep

children and families safe and healthy; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to RIght Now for Kids.

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LC005665

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