SLS 15RS-1031 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 71
BY SENATOR BROOME
COMMENDATIONS. Commends the service and contributions of Magellan Youth Leaders
Inspiring Future Empowerment, known as MY LIFE and recognizes May 7, 2015, as MY
LIFE Youth Day at the Louisiana State Capitol.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend the service and contributions of Magellan Youth Leaders Inspiring Future
3 Empowerment, known as MY LIFE, and recognize Thursday, May 7, 2015, as "MY
4 LIFE Youth Day" at the Louisiana State Capitol.
5 WHEREAS, behavioral health experts across the country now recognize that
6 involving youth in the policies, programs, and systems that serve them improves outcomes
7 for youth, helps them develop relationships, acquire new skills, improve behavior, build
8 self-confidence, instill positive social supports, and cultivate leadership skills; and
9 WHEREAS, youth involvement in shaping policy and systems that serve them not
10 only benefits the individual youth involved, but also can be very beneficial to those systems,
11 agencies, communities, and the state as a whole; and
12 WHEREAS, Magellan Health Services created MY LIFE, now with 11 groups in five
13 states with more than 500 youth regularly involved, as a free community program for youth
14 between the ages of 13 and 23 who have experience with mental health, substance use, foster
15 care-related and/or other challenges as a way to meet the need to involve youth in the
16 systems that serve them; and
17 WHEREAS, through regular meetings, special events, presentations and
18 performances, MY LIFE members provide support for their peers; develop critical skills in
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SLS 15RS-1031 ORIGINAL
1 leadership, mentoring and mental health resiliency; act as advisors to Magellan and local
2 officials to help improve services and systems that serve youth; and provide a much-needed
3 voice in the community to combat the stigma associated with behavioral health issues; and
4 WHEREAS, in July 2012, MY LIFE Louisiana was established by Magellan
5 Behavioral Health in Louisiana with MY LIFE groups started in Baton Rouge and
6 Shreveport, and with an expansion group coming to Tangipahoa Parish; and
7 WHEREAS, MY LIFE Louisiana has had many great empowerment events for
8 youth, including 42 monthly MY LIFE meetings averaging 35 attendees per meeting, as well
9 as the annual MY Fest Louisiana event, last held on November 15, 2014, in downtown Baton
10 Rouge where more than 1,200 attendees from across the state were educated about mental
11 health, substance use, foster care, and juvenile justice-related issues in order to share
12 resources, create awareness, and reduce stigma associated with these issues; and
13 WHEREAS, the second annual Louisiana MY LIFE Youth Day at the Capitol is
14 being held on Thursday, May 7, 2015, which is also National Children's Mental Health
15 Awareness Day, to bring youth from around the state to the Capitol to provide them a truly
16 unique hands-on educational experience to learn about our state government process, interact
17 with state legislators, and participate in other activities with a focus on empowering youth
18 to develop leadership skills, social skills, and greater self-confidence; and
19 WHEREAS, MY LIFE Louisiana programs and activities have flourished due to the
20 great support and partnerships of other youth serving organizations including the Louisiana
21 Behavioral Health Partnership, Family Youth and Service Center, Goodwill of North
22 Louisiana, Capital Area Human Services, Ekhaya Youth Project, Project BRAVE, City Year,
23 Youth Oasis, B.R.A.C.E.S., Office of Juvenile Justice, VIP Project, faith-based groups, and
24 other organizations.
25 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
26 does hereby commend the service and contributions of MY LIFE (Magellan Youth Leaders
27 Inspiring Future Empowerment) and does hereby recognize Thursday, May 7, 2015, as "MY
28 LIFE Youth Day" at the Louisiana State Capitol.
29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
30 MY LIFE Louisiana.
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jerry J. Guillot.
DIGEST
SR 71 Original 2015 Regular Session Broome
Commends the service and contributions of MY LIFE (Magellan Youth Leaders Inspiring
Future Empowerment) and recognizes Thursday, May 7, 2015, as MY LIFE Youth Day at
the Louisiana State Capitol.
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