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| 6 | 7 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, The observance of Maternal Mental Health Day at the |
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| 8 | 9 | | State Capitol on March 18, 2025, provides an opportunity to |
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| 9 | 10 | | acknowledge the significance of mental health care for expectant |
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| 10 | 11 | | and new mothers across the state; and |
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| 11 | 12 | | WHEREAS, Maternal mental health conditions, including |
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| 12 | 13 | | depression, anxiety, and postpartum disorders, affect |
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| 13 | 14 | | approximately one in five women during pregnancy or within the |
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| 14 | 15 | | first year after childbirth, posing substantial challenges to the |
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| 15 | 16 | | well-being of mothers and their families; in 2019, mental health |
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| 16 | 17 | | conditions were identified as the leading cause of |
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| 17 | 18 | | pregnancy-related deaths in Texas, accounting for 25 percent of |
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| 18 | 19 | | such fatalities and highlighting the critical need for |
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| 19 | 20 | | comprehensive mental health support for mothers; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, The Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
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| 21 | 22 | | offers a variety of services to support mothers, including |
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| 22 | 23 | | postpartum depression screenings, mental health and substance use |
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| 23 | 24 | | resources, and the Healthy Texas Women Plus program, which targets |
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| 24 | 25 | | major health conditions contributing to maternal morbidity and |
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| 25 | 26 | | mortality; and |
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| 26 | 27 | | WHEREAS, Since 2017, the Rupani Foundation has served some |
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| 27 | 28 | | 7,500 parents and children in the Greater Houston area, providing |
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| 28 | 29 | | early childhood development programs that promote education, brain |
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| 29 | 30 | | development, positive parenting, mental health, hygiene, and |
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| 30 | 31 | | nutrition; the organization further empowers families through its |
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| 31 | 32 | | Informed Parents Program and Brain Builders Program, and it |
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| 32 | 33 | | oversees behavioral health support initiatives that focus on mental |
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| 33 | 34 | | health awareness; in addition, the organization has launched a |
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| 34 | 35 | | Mental Health Task Force composed of medical experts to analyze |
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| 35 | 36 | | existing gaps in services and support for economically |
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| 36 | 37 | | disadvantaged mothers and young children; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Numerous other organizations and advocacy groups |
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| 38 | 39 | | across Texas have also played an important role in advancing |
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| 39 | 40 | | maternal mental health through direct services, community support |
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| 40 | 41 | | programs, professional training, and policy advocacy; these |
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| 41 | 42 | | efforts contribute to greater awareness, improved access to care, |
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| 42 | 43 | | and stronger networks of support for mothers and families |
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| 43 | 44 | | statewide; and |
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| 44 | 45 | | WHEREAS, It is vital that women receive the help they need to |
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| 45 | 46 | | successfully overcome the many challenges they may face during |
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| 46 | 47 | | pregnancy and postpartum, and the participants in this advocacy day |
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| 47 | 48 | | are to be commended for their efforts to ensure a higher standard of |
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| 48 | 49 | | care for mothers in the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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| 49 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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| 50 | 51 | | Legislature hereby recognize March 18, 2025, as Maternal Mental |
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| 51 | 52 | | Health Day at the State Capitol and extend sincere appreciation to |
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| 52 | 53 | | the Rupani Foundation and the many other organizations that are |
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| 53 | 54 | | working to enhance the well-being of mothers and families |
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| 54 | 55 | | throughout Texas. |
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