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. C31L82JAM/19970H0129R1438 - 2 -