R 167

2015 -- H 5981 Enacted 03/25/2015

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE RHODE ISLAND HEALTHY MOTHERS, HEALTHY BABIES COALITION

Introduced By: Representatives Maldonado, Fogarty, Ackerman, O`Grady, and

Date Introduced: March 25, 2015

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition was

organized and began meeting three decades ago to advocate for maternal and child health; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Chapter of the March of Dimes and the Rhode Island

Department of Health co-founded the Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition in 1985; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Rhode Island Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition

is to promote the health and well-being of mothers and their babies across the Ocean State; and

WHEREAS, The coalition has grown and its members now include, the American

Academy of Pediatrics, Family Service of RI, Lifespan, the March of Dimes, the Neighborhood

Health Plan of RI, Newport Hospital, Providence Community Health Centers, The RI Alliance,

the Rhode Island Department of Health, the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, Salve

Regina University - Department of Nursing, Women & Infants Hospital, the VNS of Newport/

Bristol Counties, and many others; and

WHEREAS, The coalition, centering its efforts on education and advocacy to reduce

maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, has sponsored statewide forums on important topics

such as: pregnancy, prenatal care, substance abuse and pregnancy, the plight of poor women and

children, the importance of fathers, and communication skills; and

WHEREAS, Volunteers from the March of Dimes and the Healthy Mothers, Healthy

Babies Coalition have gathered at the State House to advocate for legislation promoting healthy

pregnancies and healthy births; and

WHEREAS, The coalition's continued good work, commitment, and efforts in the fight

for healthy birth outcomes and against prematurity is evident. Their advocacy has been relentless

and their commitment to maternal and child health is clear; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby encourages and supports the efforts of the Rhode Island Healthy

Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition and joins them in commemorating and celebrating the 30th

Anniversary of its founding; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this House hereby conveys its collective wishes for continued success

in promoting the health and well-being of mothers and their babies across the Ocean State; and be

it further

RESOLVED, That this House hereby welcomes this 30th Anniversary celebration of the

Coalition's founding as an opportunity to celebrate the organization's accomplishments, and to

consider the Rhode Island Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of today, and imagine its

future in the 21st century and beyond; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the

State of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition.

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LC002276

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