12-R355
2012 -- S 3065
Enacted 06/12/12
S E N A T E R E
S O L U T I O N
URGING THE
DEPARTMENTS OF
Introduced
By: Senators Pichardo, Picard,
Metts, Hodgson, and
Date Introduced: June 12, 2012
WHEREAS, Nationally, youth violence is the second leading cause of
death among
young people between the ages of ten and twenty-four years;
and
WHEREAS,
Violence affects the health of entire communities. It can increase
health care
costs, decrease property values, and disrupt social
services; and
WHEREAS, The risk factors surrounding youth violence are complex and
can include
mental health issues, early involvement with alcohol, drugs,
and tobacco, and low levels of social
cohesion within a community; and
WHEREAS, In 2011, 255
of violent crimes committed; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated
that only five percent of eligible high-risk juvenile offenders
are effectively treated with an evidence-based
intervention annually; and
WHEREAS, Youth of color
are overrepresented within the juvenile justice
system and it
is essential to promote fair and unbiased juvenile
justice systems; and
WHEREAS, Partner
agencies, schools, law enforcement, families, and communities must
work collaboratively in order to strengthen our young
people’s physical, social-emotional,
cultural, and economic environments in ways that promote their
optimal well-being and that
prevent violence; and
WHEREAS, Valuable
on-the-job training, work experience, and career exploration
programs for vulnerable at-risk youths are essential to
bolster self-efficacy, independence, and
skills training for the future; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED,
That this Senate of the State of
hereby supports the use of effective evidence-based
prevention and intervention strategies to
strengthen programs serving at-risk youth; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate hereby strongly urges Congress to
fully fund the
Workforce Investment Act
(WIA) for youth employment skills training and opportunities; and be
it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate strongly encourages the departments
of
Executive Office of Health
and Human Services to engage in contracts that utilize evidence-
based, clinical practices that target risk factors which
are individualized and culturally competent;
and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Senate respectfully requests the departments
of the Executive
Office of Health and Human
Services to report on an annual basis to the Senate Committee on
Health and Human Services,
specific outcome data to evaluate performance measures to support
future contracts; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is
authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Rhode
Island Congressional Delegation, the
Governor, The Honorable
Lincoln Chafee, and the Secretary of Rhode Island’s
Executive Office
of Health and Human Services.
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LC02705
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