Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 15
BY SENATOR MORRELL AND REPRESENTATI VE HODGES
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request 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.
WHEREAS, EarlySteps is Louisiana's early intervention system, providing services
to families with children ages up to three years who are having problems walking, talking,
hearing, or seeing, or who have a medical condition that could cause a delay in any of these
areas; and
WHEREAS, EarlySteps is managed by the Department of Health and Hospitals,
office for citizens with developmental disabilities; and
WHEREAS, the EarlySteps system is designed to support families with their child's
development through assisting families in helping their child develop and learn, assisting
families in understanding their rights in EarlySteps, assisting families in communicating
their child's specific needs, and determining a family's concerns, priorities, and resources
regarding their child's special needs; and
WHEREAS, the EarlySteps services are provided in a child's natural environment,
such as at his home or at his child care facility; and
WHEREAS, EarlySteps services use the "family-centered" approach with the
provider not only working with a child, but also with the child's family to help the family
support and enhance the child's development; and
WHEREAS, the EarlySteps system has been a success and continues to be a success;
and
WHEREAS, it is imperative to make eligible children and their families aware of the
EarlySteps system; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana hospitals and doctors come into contact with children and
families who may be eligible for the EarlySteps system; and SCR NO. 15 ENROLLED
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, the Department of Health and Hospitals should make every effort to
ensure Louisiana hospitals and doctors are knowledgeable about the EarlySteps system and
aware of the opportunity to direct children and their families to the EarlySteps system.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request 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.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the
secretary of the Department of Health and Hospitals, the executive director of the Louisiana
Hospital Association, the executive director of the Louisiana State Medical Society, and the
executive director of the Optometry Association of Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES