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Regular Session, 2012
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 15
BY SENATOR MORRELL AND REPRESENTATI VE HODGES
HEALTH/HOSPITALS DEPT. Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals to
promote the department's EarlySteps system with the Louisiana Hospital Association, the
Louisiana State Medical Society, and the Optometry Association of Louisiana.
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to promote the department's2
EarlySteps system with the Louisiana Hospital Association, the Louisiana State3
Medical Society, and the Optometry Association of Louisiana.4
WHEREAS, EarlySteps is Louisiana's early intervention system, providing services5
to families with children ages up to three years who are having problems walking, talking,6
hearing, or seeing, or who have a medical condition that could cause a delay in any of these7
areas; and8
WHEREAS, EarlySteps is managed by the Department of Health and Hospitals,9
office for citizens with developmental disabilities; and10
WHEREAS, the EarlySteps system is designed to support families with their child's11
development through assisting families in helping their child develop and learn, assisting12
families in understanding their rights in EarlySteps, assisting families in communicating13
their child's specific needs, and determining a family's concerns, priorities, and resources14
regarding their child's special needs; and15
WHEREAS, the EarlySteps services are provided in a child's natural environment,16
such as at his home or at his child care facility; and17
WHEREAS, EarlySteps services use the "family-centered" approach with the18 SCR NO. 15
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provider not only working with a child, but also with the child's family to help the family1
support and enhance the child's development; and2
WHEREAS, the EarlySteps system has been a success and continues to be a success;3
and4
WHEREAS, it is imperative to make eligible children and their families aware of the5
EarlySteps system; and6
WHEREAS, Louisiana hospitals and doctors come into contact with children and7
families who may be eligible for the EarlySteps system; and8
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals should make every effort to9
ensure Louisiana hospitals and doctors are knowledgeable about the EarlySteps system and10
aware of the opportunity to direct children and their families to the EarlySteps system.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby12
urge and request the Department of Health and Hospitals to promote the department's13
EarlySteps system with the Louisiana Hospital Association, the Louisiana State Medical14
Society, and the Optometry Association of Louisiana.15
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the16
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, the executive director of the Louisiana17
Hospital Association, the executive director of the Louisiana State Medical Society, and the18
executive director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana.19
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Christopher D. Adams.
DIGEST
Morrell SCR No. 15
Requests the Department of Health and Hospitals to promote the department's EarlySteps
system with the Louisiana Hospital Association, the Louisiana State Medical Society, and
the Optometry Association of Louisiana.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill
1. Adds the Optometry Association of Louisiana to the requested organizations
that DHH promotes the EarlySteps system.