By: Hinojosa S.C.R. No. 46
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, During the transition from childhood to adulthood,
adolescents often fail to receive regular primary health care
screenings and treatment that could greatly improve their current
and future health; and
WHEREAS, Many adolescents are adversely affected by serious
health and safety issues, such as motor vehicle crashes, violence,
and substance abuse; they also struggle to adopt behaviors that
could decrease their risk of developing chronic diseases in
adulthood--behaviors such as eating nutritiously, engaging in
physical activity, and choosing not to use tobacco; a number of
environmental factors, such as family, peer group, school, and
community characteristics, contribute to the challenges that
adolescents face; and
WHEREAS, Adolescence is a critical time for developing
positive habits and skills that can lead to healthy behaviors over
an individual's lifetime; the Institute of Medicine and the
National Research Council conducted a study that found that one
important factor in designing an adolescent health service is the
focus on prevention of disease; one of the conclusions of the study
was the "prevention, early intervention and timely treatment
improve the health status for adolescents, prepare them for healthy
adulthood, and decrease the incidence of many chronic diseases in
adulthood"; and
WHEREAS, In the past few years, immunizations have been
licensed to provide protection for teens against such illnesses as
meningococcal infections, pertussis, or whooping cough, and
cervical cancer; the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
specifically recommends the use of FDA-approved vaccines for
pertussis, tetanus, and meningitis, in adolescents; a national
survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) found, however, that immunization coverage levels among
adolescents in 2006 failed to meet the Healthy People 2010
objective of 90 percent coverage for youth aged 13 through 15 for
any of the vaccines measured; and
WHEREAS, Numerous organizations have emphasized the
importance of routine screenings and inoculations in promoting the
health of adolescents; the Society for Adolescent Medicine has
found that adolescent well physicals are one of the most effective
of preventive care tools for ensuring continued health from
childhood to adulthood and that adolescents who regularly visit a
primary care physician are less likely to visit emergency rooms and
have preventable hospitalizations and are more likely to receive
recommended immunizations and other evidence-based health care
services; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Department of State Health Service (DSHS)
is the agency responsible for the implementation of the Adolescent
Health Program, which maintains a comprehensive and holistic view
of adolescents' health and well-being and provides information on
adolescent health through consultation, technical assistance, and
educational presentations to local, state, public, and private
agencies; in addition, DSHS is the agency that houses the Texas
Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Program, the
Texas Asthma Control Program, the Immunization Branch, and the
School Health Program, all of which have a significant, positive
impact on the health and well-being of adolescent Texans; and
WHEREAS, The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides education
to children and parents about healthy practices and behaviors
through the curriculum it requires for health, fitness, and life
skills courses, as well as through the activity of the TEA Division
of Health and Safety, which provides coordination, leadership,
policy development, and implementation assistance for specific
state and federal requirements and programs that emphasize
providing students with opportunities to achieve their maximum
potential for a safe and healthy lifestyle; and
WHEREAS, Additionally, the Health Resources and Services
Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
has developed, in conjunction with the American Academy of
Pediatricians, the Bright Futures initiative, which provides a set
of guidelines for adolescent care, including recommendations on
immunizations and routine health screenings; for its part, the CDC
has launched a national campaign to raise awareness about
adolescent health and immunizations; and
WHEREAS, Parents' awareness of the need for adolescent well
visits is a crucial factor in determining whether their children
receive routine health care and preventive treatment; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby express its support of efforts to improve adolescent health
by educating parents about the fundamental importance of
adolescents' receiving regular physical exams and updated
immunizations; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the legislature direct the Texas Department of
State Health Services and the Texas Education Agency and all other
state agencies that provide information, services, or support to
adolescent Texans or their parents to seek out opportunities to
educate them as to the importance of these exams and of acquiring
recommended immunizations and the positive impact that these
measures will have on adolescents' long-term health and well-being;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an
official copy of this resolution to the commissioner of the Texas
Department of State Health Services and the commissioner of
education.