PRINTER'S NO. 3128
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
801
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY FLYNN, FARINA, TOOHIL, MURT, COHEN, SCHLOSSBERG,
READSHAW, DiGIROLAMO, V. BROWN, MAHONEY, WHEELAND, MILLARD,
BAKER, VEREB, PAYNE, BOBACK, KIRKLAND, HARHAI, LONGIETTI,
MARSICO, GOODMAN, HENNESSEY, WARD, ROZZI, SAYLOR, PHILLIPS-
HILL AND WATSON, APRIL 8, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
APRIL 8, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of April 17 through 23, 2016, as
"Pennsylvania Family Center Network Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, 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
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WHEREAS, Family center services are tailored to the resources
and needs of the communities served; and
WHEREAS, Family centers serve 5,164 families with 7,103
children enrolled in the Parents as Teachers (PAT) home visiting
program and hundreds more families receive other supportive
services; and
WHEREAS, The Commonwealth invests more than $3 million in
family centers throughout this Commonwealth; 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, Approximately 71% of the families served are
considered high risk due to low educational attainment, poverty
or disability; and
WHEREAS, Established and emerging research is the foundation
of parent education and family support curricula, training,
materials and services; and
WHEREAS, PAT is the evidence-based program used by all
Pennsylvania family centers and PAT's vision is that all
children will learn, 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 the PAT value 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
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effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, Family centers, through their strength-based work
with families, including the use of the PAT model, support
families in achieving economic stability, healthy children in
healthy homes and school readiness of children; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
week of April 17 through 23, 2016, as "Pennsylvania Family
Center Network Week" in Pennsylvania.
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