Bill Text: TX HCR37 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Designating May 31 as Texas Foster Youth Empowerment Day for a 10-year period ending in 2033.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-05-02 - Referred to Administration [HCR37 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-HCR37-Comm_Sub.html
| 88R7076 BK-D | ||
| By: Wu | H.C.R. No. 37 | |
|
|
||
| WHEREAS, Every year, an estimated 20,000 young Texans are | ||
| placed in our state's foster care system, and the establishment of | ||
| an annual Texas Foster Youth Empowerment Day will help ensure that | ||
| they receive the support they need to realize their full potential; | ||
| and | ||
| WHEREAS, Youth in the foster care system are required to | ||
| navigate considerable challenges, and of particular concern are | ||
| those young people who age out of the system; in Texas, nearly 40 | ||
| percent of the individuals who exited foster care in 2020 left due | ||
| to aging out, rather than being adopted or reunified with family; | ||
| nationally, more than 23,000 youth age out of foster care each year, | ||
| and of that number, 20 percent become homeless, and only 3 percent | ||
| go on to earn a higher education degree; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Many young people find it difficult to transition | ||
| out of foster care because they lack an effective support system; | ||
| they can benefit greatly from services provided by state agencies, | ||
| including financial literacy education, access to vaccinations and | ||
| other medical care, and assistance with acquiring official | ||
| paperwork and identification documentation; moreover, guidance in | ||
| how to apply for student financial aid, Medicaid, and other | ||
| benefits can enable them to achieve stability and greater | ||
| independence; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Many foster youth are also underserved in regard to | ||
| their mental and emotional health; the experience of living in | ||
| foster care, as well as the abuse and neglect that they may have | ||
| experienced before being removed from their original homes, can | ||
| have a long-term impact, which is best addressed through | ||
| professional therapy and counseling; and | ||
| WHEREAS, Young people represent the future of our state, and | ||
| Texas Foster Youth Empowerment Day celebrates those who are part of | ||
| our foster care system while raising awareness of the important | ||
| work that must be done to achieve better outcomes for these | ||
| deserving young Texans; now, therefore, be it | ||
| RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas | ||
| hereby designate May 31 as Texas Foster Youth Empowerment Day; and, | ||
| be it further | ||
| RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of | ||
| Section 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in | ||
| effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is | ||
| finally passed by the legislature. | ||
