PRINTER'S NO. 739

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

No.

68

Session of

2015

INTRODUCED BY COSTA, KITCHEN, HAYWOOD, BLAKE, WOZNIAK, SCAVELLO,

TEPLITZ, FONTANA, DINNIMAN, RAFFERTY, AUMENT, GREENLEAF,

BAKER, ALLOWAY AND SMITH, APRIL 14, 2015

throughout pregnancy until children enter school; and

WHEREAS, Family centers promote the protective factors that

keep families strong by increasing parent knowledge and

practices, providing early detection of developmental delays and

health issues, preventing child abuse and neglect, meeting

concrete needs, increasing children's school readiness and

school success, connecting families with each other and

increasing family involvement and leadership in the community;

and

WHEREAS, All young children and their families deserve the

program and hundreds more families with supportive services; and

WHEREAS, PAT is the evidence-based program used by all

Pennsylvania Family Centers; and

WHEREAS, PAT's vision is that all children will earn, grow

and develop to reach their full potential and

WHEREAS, PAT's mission is to provide the information, support

and encouragement parents need to help children develop

optimally during the crucial early years of life; and

WHEREAS, Family centers affirm PAT's position that parents

are children's first and most influential teachers, and the

economic stability, healthy children in healthy homes and school

readiness of children through strength-based work with families,

including the use of the PAT's model; and

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth invests more than $3 million in

family centers; and

WHEREAS, More than 60% of Pennsylvania's population lives in

the 28 counties served by family centers in urban, rural and

suburban communities; and

WHEREAS, Sixty-five percent of the families served are

considered high risk due to low educational attainment, poverty

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of April 19

through 25, 2015, as "Pennsylvania Family Center Network Week"

in Pennsylvania.