| R 270 |
| 2025 -- H 6312 Enacted 05/08/2025 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| COMMEMORATING "RHODE ISLAND HOME VISITING DAY" ON MAY 8, 2025 |
Introduced By: Representatives Giraldo, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Chippendale, Cruz, Potter, Stewart, Alzate, Solomon, and Casimiro |
| Date Introduced: May 08, 2025 |
| WHEREAS, The early childhood years are the most active period for the developing |
| brain and a stable, secure relationship with a nurturing, caring adult is a key factor in the |
| development of young children; and |
| WHEREAS, Many parents begin the difficult lifetime job of raising a child feeling |
| unprepared for the challenges ahead and children have a better, healthier start when parents have |
| the support and skills needed to raise them; and |
| WHEREAS, Home visiting can include a variety of different programs and models, |
| including early childhood home visiting programs and parenting education programs; and |
| WHEREAS, Home visiting programs are completely voluntary and help parents meet the |
| unique needs of their children, promote healthy development, strengthen family relationships, |
| reduce the risk of abuse and neglect, and promote equity by providing resources to families who |
| are furthest from opportunity; and |
| WHEREAS, Well-trained professionals implement early childhood home visitation so |
| that all families have the opportunity to access information in ways that respect their unique |
| beliefs, traditions and customs; and |
| WHEREAS, For at least four decades, Rhode Island’s First Connections program, |
| overseen by the Department of Health, has been providing free, voluntary, statewide home |
| visiting to expectant mothers and families with newborns, infants, and toddlers, reaching about |
| thirty-five percent of families with new babies; and |
| WHEREAS, In 2010, Rhode Island expanded home visiting services to fund |
| implementation of Healthy Families America and Parents as Teachers as nationally-recognized |
| evidence-based program models that connect pregnant and parenting families with a designated |
| support person who guides them through the early stages of raising a family; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby |
| commemorates May 8th of 2025, to be “Rhode Island Home Visiting Day” in the State of Rhode |
| Island, and urges individuals and organizations across our State to utilize home visiting resources |
| as needed to support the health and well-being of our children and families; 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 Jerome Larkin, MD, Director of the Rhode |
| Island Department of Health, and Kim Merolla-Brito, Director of the Rhode Island Department of |
| Human Services. |
| ======== |
| LC002847 |
| ======== |