PRINTER'S NO. 1438
No. 129 Session of 1997
INTRODUCED BY COY, O'BRIEN, E. Z. TAYLOR, STABACK, BARD, BROWNE,
VAN HORNE, ITKIN, L. I. COHEN, MANDERINO, SAYLOR, WASHINGTON,
RAMOS, TIGUE, CLARK, MUNDY, SERAFINI, BENNINGHOFF, NICKOL,
CURRY, SHANER, CAPPABIANCA, CORPORA, C. WILLIAMS, OLIVER,
BELFANTI, McCALL, OLASZ, HERSHEY, SATHER, BEBKO-JONES, ORIE,
DENT, YOUNGBLOOD, STETLER, BELARDI, READSHAW, McNAUGHTON,
FARGO, DeWEESE, MAYERNIK, NAILOR, MASLAND, GEIST, WALKO,
MELIO, LEDERER, HERMAN, LUCYK, HALUSKA, M. N. WRIGHT, TRELLO,
BLAUM, GEORGE, SANTONI, SCHULER, KENNEY, JOSEPHS, RUBLEY AND
DRUCE, APRIL 10, 1997
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON RULES, APRIL 10, 1997
A RESOLUTION
1 Recognizing the benefits of the broad spectrum of early
2 childhood intervention programs, including the specialized
3 services that can be provided solely at early childhood
4 intervention centers, and urging the continued support and
5 encouragement of these programs and facilities.
6 WHEREAS, It is the moral and legal responsibility of the
7 Commonwealth to provide all children living in this Commonwealth
8 with the opportunity to be successful in the educational
9 programs of the Commonwealth; and
10 WHEREAS, Children who participate in early childhood
11 intervention programs make such significant educational and
12 developmental progress that 17% of these children from birth to
13 age three and 26% of them between the ages of three and five do
14 not need further enrichment in order to participate fully in the
15 education programs of the Commonwealth; and
1 WHEREAS, Such progress is contingent upon a needs-based
2 approach which uses the specific needs of a participating
3 child's family as the sole determining factor in prescribing
4 services for that child; and
5 WHEREAS, There is a wide range of programs, therapies and
6 services available, of which any one, or combination, will serve
7 the best interests of a child; and
8 WHEREAS, Services, therapies and technical equipment are best
9 utilized in centers staffed with professionals who are competent
10 in these areas; and
11 WHEREAS, There is a documented shortage of pediatric
12 therapists in this Commonwealth, and it has been shown that
13 their impact is best magnified through center-based availability
14 and provision of their services; and
15 WHEREAS, How children and adults function hinges in large
16 part on what they experience in the formative years, or those
17 years from birth to age three; therefore be it
18 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives recognize the
19 benefits of the broad spectrum of early childhood intervention
20 programs, including the specialized services that can be
21 provided solely at early childhood intervention centers, and
22 urge the continued support an encouragement of these programs
23 and facilities.
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