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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3 Representatives are pleased to honor Dr. Robert Bloom for his
4 many achievements and his retirement as Executive Director of
5 Jewish Child and Family Services of Chicago; and
 
6     WHEREAS, He grew up in Chicago's Logan Square and graduated
7 from Avondale Elementary School and Carl Schurz High School
8 with honors; Dr. Bloom holds a Bachelor of Science degree from
9 the University of Chicago, a Master's of Arts degree from
10 Northeastern Illinois University, and a Ph.D. from the
11 University of Minnesota; and he has completed specialized
12 training in various related fields at Columbia and Harvard
13 Universities; and
 
14     WHEREAS, Dr. Robert Bloom is the Executive Director of the
15 Jewish Child and Family Services of Chicago (a two-year old
16 merger of the Jewish Children's Bureau and the Jewish Family
17 and Community Service); for over 30 years, he has worked as a
18 teacher, therapist, consultant, program director, and
19 executive administrator in the fields of educational and
20 psychological services to children with disabilities and their
21 families; and
 
22     WHEREAS, He has taught many courses on child development

 

 

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1 and childhood psychopathology; he has had many works published,
2 most recently on risk management topics such as institutional
3 child sexual abuse, the malpractice risks of working in a
4 managed behavioral health care system, and the management of
5 residential treatment centers; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Before becoming the Executive Director at the
7 Jewish Children's Bureau, Dr. Bloom was Chairman of Special
8 Education at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, where
9 he developed the nation's first special education program that
10 included working with families of children with disabilities;
11 he integrated work with families and work with children as the
12 Director of Residential Treatment at Bellefaire/Jewish
13 Children's Bureau in Cleveland, Ohio; former President Carter
14 appointed Dr. Bloom as a consultant, representing families with
15 disabled members, to the White House Conference on Families;
16 and United States Department of Human Services Secretary
17 Thompson appointed Dr. Bloom to the steering committee for
18 Adopt US Kids; and
 
19     WHEREAS, He has been a Chicago Cubs fan since he was nine
20 years old; Ernie Banks was and is his hero and his favorite
21 professional athlete; he has an autographed baseball and photo
22 that says "to Bob, Let's Play Two, Ernie" that is one of his
23 most treasured possessions; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, There is no Hebrew word for retirement, because we
2 all should continue learning and mentoring after our management
3 careers end; Dr. Bloom is continuing on as a social work
4 instructor, helping to prepare a new generation of caring human
5 service professionals; therefore, be it
 
6     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7 NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8 congratulate the beloved Dr. Bloom for his many achievements
9 and his upcoming retirement and wish him continued success in
10 his future endeavors; and be it further
 
11     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
12 presented to Dr. Robert Bloom as a symbol of our respect.