2015 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 59
BY SENATOR BROOME
A RESOLUTION
To recognize Tuesday, April 28, 2015, as "Healthy Start Day" at the Louisiana Senate, and
commend the Family Tree Healthy Start Program for its exceptional achievements
and manifold contributions.
WHEREAS, the mission of the Family Tree Information, Education and Counseling
Center is to improve the quality of life for individuals and families over the life course
through education, counseling, and information services that are delivered in a professional,
accessible, and compassionate manner; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to commend the Family Tree Healthy Start Program
for its efforts in coordinating a culturally sensitive and accessible network of care to the
women in the parishes of Lafayette, Iberville, St. Martin, Evangeline, and Acadia; and
WHEREAS, the Family Tree Healthy Start Program acknowledges the vision of the
Health Resources and Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, which began funding fifteen Healthy Start Initiatives in 1991 and which currently
has over one hundred five Healthy Start projects in thirty-nine states, the District of
Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, the Healthy Start Program Infant Mortality Reduction Initiative is a
valuable resource and intervention program made available to eliminate disparities in
perinatal health resulting from multiple factors including race, education, income, disability,
or living in a rural area and to reduce negative birth outcomes that directly affect the infant
mortality rate by providing home visitation, case management, outreach, health education,
and depression screening; and
WHEREAS, this free program, which is not based upon income, targets
African-American women, but services are provided to any eligible member residing in the
five Acadiana parishes; and
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WHEREAS, the objectives of the Family Tree Healthy Start program are to improve
the overall health of program participants in an effort to reduce negative birth outcomes and
increase awareness of negative birth outcomes by providing health education to providers,
general populations, and community participants and conducting community events.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby recognize Tuesday, April 28, 2015, as "Healthy Start Day" at the Louisiana
Senate, does hereby commend the Family Tree Healthy Start Program for its exceptional
achievements and manifold contributions, and does hereby extend enduring appreciation to
the organization and its members for the tremendous honor and pride that they bring to their
local communities, the state of Louisiana, and the United States of America.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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