SJ0005 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SJ0005 LRB096 03553 DRJ 13578 r

SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, According to the 2005 American Community Survey, over 12 million people lived in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Of the people living in Illinois, 72 percent are White, 15 percent are African-American, 4 percent are Asian, and 9 percent are of Other Races; and

WHEREAS, Of the citizens in Illinois, 15 percent are of Hispanic or Latino origin and 85 percent are not of Hispanic or Latino origin; and

WHEREAS, Seven percent of the population is under 5 years of age, 19 percent is between 5 and 17 years of age, 58 percent is between 18 and 64 years of age, and 16 percent of the population is 65 years of age or older; and

WHEREAS, There are 3,229,558 children under 18 years of age living in households in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, Of the children living in Illinois, 65 percent are White, 18 percent are African-American, 4 percent are Asian, and 13 percent are Other Races; and

WHEREAS, Of the children in Illinois, 20 percent are of Hispanic or Latino origin and 80 percent are not Hispanic or Latino; and

WHEREAS, Eighty-eight percent of children live in the same household as their parents, seven percent live with grandparents, three percent live with other relatives, and two percent live with unrelated foster parents; and

WHEREAS, Of the 4,691,020 households in Illinois, 50 percent are defined as married-couple family household, four percent are defined as male householder - no wife present, 13 percent are defined as female householder - no husband present, and 33 percent are defined as non-family household; and

WHEREAS, Eight percent of children who live in married-couple family households received public assistance in the past 12 months; 21 percent of children who live in male householder - no wife present family households received public assistance in the past 12 months; and 43% of children who live in female householder - no husband present family household received public assistance in the past 12 months; and

WHEREAS, Of the low-income households in Illinois, 78 percent experienced housing problems; and 23% of White households experienced housing problems compared to 42 percent of African-American households and 53 percent of Hispanic households; and

WHEREAS, Examination of educational achievement for Illinois residents 25 years and older reveals that 15 percent have achieved less than a high school diploma, 28 percent graduated from high school, 28 percent attended college or received an associated degree, 18 percent received a bachelor's degree, and 11 percent have attained a graduate degree or higher or professional degree; and

WHEREAS, Fifty-four percent of low-income households pay more than 50 percent of their household income for housing; and

WHEREAS, Over 44,000 adults are in prison, and 94 percent are male and six percent are female; 60 percent are African-American, 11 percent are Hispanic, and 28 percent are White; and

WHEREAS, Of the more than 1,400 juveniles in prison, 92 percent are male and eight percent are female; and 54 percent are African-American, 11 percent are Hispanic, and 34 percent are White; and

WHEREAS, Children reared by single parents are more likely to drop out of high school, commit criminal acts, and become homeless; and

WHEREAS, Since 2002, over 26,000 children per year are indicated for abuse or neglect and are living with parents more likely to be identified as the perpetrator; and

WHEREAS, The socioeconomic status of the parents affects the risk of children experiencing violent acts, growing up in violent communities, and not having access to a quality education or affordable and quality health care; and

WHEREAS, Families are under stress and are increasingly unable to protect or provide for their children; and

WHEREAS, Family violence, including domestic violence, negatively affects children's emotional and psychological well-being; and

WHEREAS, Families living below poverty and middle income earners are more likely to become homeless as there is a severe shortage of affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, The family is the primary institution for caring and providing for the emotional, physical, and social well-being of children and assuring that they receive the moral guidance and social skills to successfully reach their potential and contribute as citizens; and

WHEREAS, Many children live in communities where food deserts exist - they are unable to access healthy food; and

WHEREAS, Children living in some urban communities are frequently exposed to different levels of assorted toxic chemicals both inside and outside the home; and

WHEREAS, Low-income children and their parents are less likely to have access to quality health care, less likely to have incomes to secure safe and affordable housing, and less likely to have community schools with certified teachers than affluent families; and

WHEREAS, There is a relationship between child well-being, family well-being, and a community's social and economic strength; and

WHEREAS, Parents are primarily responsible for instilling in their children moral, community, civic, and social responsibility; and

WHEREAS, Community institutions, agencies, and organizations have a moral and social responsibility to assist their members in achieving optimal well-being; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Parents and Community Accountability Study Committee, hereafter referred to as the Committee, consisting of 29 members appointed as follows:

(1) Three members appointed by the President of the Senate;

(2) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(3) Three members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(4) Two members appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(5) One member of the Governor's staff appointed by the Governor;

(6) Two members appointed by the Chair of the Illinois African-American Family Commission;

(7) Two members appointed by the Joint Chair of an association that represents Illinois African American legislators;

(8) One member appointed by the Chair of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board;

(9) One member from each of the following State agencies appointed by their respective heads: Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Human Services, Department on Aging, Illinois State Board of Education, Department of Juvenile Justice, Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and Department of Corrections; and

(10) Six public members representing the interests of child welfare advocates, public health researchers, the general public, the formerly incarcerated, faith-based community, and court personnel - each appointed by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Human Services in conjunction with the Department of Children and Family Services shall provide staff and administrative support to the Committee; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Committee shall examine issues related to racial and socioeconomic disparities affecting the pro-social development of children and youth; shall identify ways to engage more parents in being accountable for the actions of their children; and shall identify ways to engage more communities in being accountable for investing in pro-social development of children and families; the Committee shall also research the types of supports needed to help parents develop the necessary skills to ensure that their children achieve positive youth development and to reduce factors that lead to violence in the community, home, and school; the Committee shall also study what systems are needed to assist communities to reinvest in and support children and families; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Committee shall hold public hearings in every Legislative District it deems necessary and present a report of its findings and recommendations to the 96th General Assembly before June 30, 2010.