HR203: HR203 Youth Villages; commend

25 LC 112 2768 House Resolution 203 By: Representatives Oliver of the 84th, Hawkins of the 27th, Buckner of the 137th, Taylor of the 173rd, and Dempsey of the 13th A RESOLUTION Congratulating and commending Youth Villages; and for other purposes.1 WHEREAS, Youth Villages was founded in 1986 and has built a nat ional reputation for2 radically improving the lives of America's children, families, and young adults; and3 WHEREAS, Youth Villages is recognized as a leader in providing, partnering with others,4 and advocating for innovative, evidence-based, family-focused program models and services5 designed to preserve and restore families as well as help child ren reach for their dreams,6 bettering the lives of more than 43,000 youth annually in 27 st ates and the District of7 Columbia across 102 locations in 2024; and8 WHEREAS, the mission of Youth Villages is to "help children and families live9 successfully," and the organization adheres to its values, incl uding that "kids' needs come10 first…always," believing that every child should have the resources and opportunities they11 need; and12 WHEREAS, Youth Villages began its operations in Georgia in 2009, marking 15 years of13 service in the state in 2024, during which it helped more than 5,500 children, families, and14 young adults; and15 H. R. 203 - 1 - 25 LC 112 2768 WHEREAS, Youth Villages serves Georgia's children and their fam ilies through its Inner16 Harbour Campus, a psychiatric residential treatment facility in Douglasville, and it is17 elevating residential services in the state with $70 million in new construction and18 renovations at the facility; and19 WHEREAS, Youth Villages provides community-based services in the metro Atlanta area20 through its Intercept program, an integrated intensive in-home program proven to safely21 prevent children from entering foster care or to reunite families quickly when out-of-home22 care is required, and through its LifeSet model, which serves a s a bridge to successful23 adulthood for young people who have experienced foster care or other childhood trauma; and24 WHEREAS, Youth Villages has been honored by numerous organizati ons and agencies,25 including being certified as a Great Place to Work and recognized by the White House as a26 "high-impact, results-oriented organization"; and27 WHEREAS, Youth Villages partners with the Georgia Departments o f Behavioral Health28 and Developmental Disabilities, Community Hea lth, Education, an d Human Services to29 serve Georgia's children, families, and young adults; and30 WHEREAS, it is abundantly fitting and proper that the outstanding accomplishments of this31 distinguished organization, its staff, and its volunteers be appropriately recognized for their32 dedication and work to better the lives of Georgia's children, young adults, and their families.33 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that34 the members of this body congratulate Youth Villages, its staff , and its volunteers and35 convey to them this legislative body's heartiest commendation f or their past, present, and36 H. R. 203 - 2 - 25 LC 112 2768 future work on behalf of children, youth, and their families in this state and throughout our37 nation.38 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized39 and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Youth40 Villages.41 H. R. 203 - 3 -