| 1 | 1 | | 88R7076 BK-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Wu H.C.R. No. 37 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Every year, an estimated 20,000 young Texans are |
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| 7 | 7 | | placed in our state's foster care system, and the establishment of |
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| 8 | 8 | | an annual Texas Foster Youth Empowerment Day will help ensure that |
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| 9 | 9 | | they receive the support they need to realize their full potential; |
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| 10 | 10 | | and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, Youth in the foster care system are required to |
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| 12 | 12 | | navigate considerable challenges, and of particular concern are |
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| 13 | 13 | | those young people who age out of the system; in Texas, nearly 40 |
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| 14 | 14 | | percent of the individuals who exited foster care in 2020 left due |
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| 15 | 15 | | to aging out, rather than being adopted or reunified with family; |
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| 16 | 16 | | nationally, more than 23,000 youth age out of foster care each year, |
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| 17 | 17 | | and of that number, 20 percent become homeless, and only 3 percent |
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| 18 | 18 | | go on to earn a higher education degree; and |
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| 19 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Many young people find it difficult to transition |
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| 20 | 20 | | out of foster care because they lack an effective support system; |
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| 21 | 21 | | they can benefit greatly from services provided by state agencies, |
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| 22 | 22 | | including financial literacy education, access to vaccinations and |
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| 23 | 23 | | other medical care, and assistance with acquiring official |
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| 24 | 24 | | paperwork and identification documentation; moreover, guidance in |
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| 25 | 25 | | how to apply for student financial aid, Medicaid, and other |
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| 26 | 26 | | benefits can enable them to achieve stability and greater |
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| 27 | 27 | | independence; and |
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| 28 | 28 | | WHEREAS, Many foster youth are also underserved in regard to |
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| 29 | 29 | | their mental and emotional health; the experience of living in |
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| 30 | 30 | | foster care, as well as the abuse and neglect that they may have |
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| 31 | 31 | | experienced before being removed from their original homes, can |
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| 32 | 32 | | have a long-term impact, which is best addressed through |
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| 33 | 33 | | professional therapy and counseling; and |
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| 34 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Young people represent the future of our state, and |
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| 35 | 35 | | Texas Foster Youth Empowerment Day celebrates those who are part of |
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| 36 | 36 | | our foster care system while raising awareness of the important |
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| 37 | 37 | | work that must be done to achieve better outcomes for these |
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| 38 | 38 | | deserving young Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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| 39 | 39 | | RESOLVED, That the 88th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 40 | 40 | | hereby designate May 31 as Texas Foster Youth Empowerment Day; and, |
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| 41 | 41 | | be it further |
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| 42 | 42 | | RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of |
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| 43 | 43 | | Section 391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in |
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| 44 | 44 | | effect until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is |
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| 45 | 45 | | finally passed by the legislature. |
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