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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, First responders, such as firefighters, emergency
3medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, and police officers,
4endure countless dangers and struggles day-to-day while
5serving their communities and providing lifesaving Emergency
6Medical Services (EMS); and
 
7    WHEREAS, Families and children of these brave individuals
8encounter their own day-to-day battles, often stemming from a
9lack of stability and concerns regarding their family member's
10safety while on the job; and
 
11    WHEREAS, According to the First Responders Children's
12Foundation (FRCF), data has shown that children of first
13responders experience considerable stress on a daily basis in
14relation to their parents' jobs; and
 
15    WHEREAS, In an article titled "Children of First
16Responders Need Our Help", FRCF President and CEO Jillian
17Crane attests that children of first responders face daunting
18mental wellness challenges, including separation anxiety, fear
19for parents, consistent worrying, and social isolation, among
20others; and
 
21    WHEREAS, When a parent is gone inconsistently, especially

 

 

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1during important moments of a child's development, said child
2may experience feelings of abandonment; strong parental bonds
3are important to the lives and mental health of children and
4teenagers; when these bonds are weakened due to inconsistency,
5children may find it exceedingly difficult to establish strong
6bonds with parents, peers, other family members, or authority
7figures, potentially stunting their development as they reach
8adolescence; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Families and children of first responders,
10through the commemoration of a day of unity focused on their
11community and their particular struggles, have the opportunity
12to combat social isolation while finding strength in one
13another; therefore, be it
 
14    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
15HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
16we declare June 1, 2024 as Unity for Children of First
17Responders Day in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
18    RESOLVED, That we recognize the sacrifices made by
19families and children of first responders; and be it further
 
20    RESOLVED, That we recognize Yanna M. Davenport for her
21efforts to make Unity for Children of First Responders Day a
22national event; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
2presented to Yanna Davenport as a symbol of our respect and
3esteem.