PRINTER'S NO. 723
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
80
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY COSTA, APRIL 19, 2017
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 19, 2017
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of April 23 through 29, 2017, as
"Pennsylvania Family Center Network Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania Family Centers are early childhood,
parent education and family support programs serving families
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
same opportunities to succeed regardless of any demographic,
geographic or economic considerations; and
WHEREAS, Family center services are tailored to the resources
and needs of the communities served; and
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WHEREAS, Family centers serve 4,733 families with 6,843
children enrolled in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) home visiting
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
early years of life are critical for optimal development and
provide the foundation for success in school and in life; and
WHEREAS, PAT is federally recognized as an evidence-based
model program because it meets rigorous standards for
effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, Family centers support families in achieving
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
or disability; and
WHEREAS, Established and emerging research should be the
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foundation of parent education and family support curricula,
training, materials and services; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of April 23
through 29, 2017, as "Pennsylvania Family Center Network Week"
in Pennsylvania.
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