H.R. No. 750
R E S O L U T I O N
1-1 WHEREAS, The Minority AIDS Education Program of Planned
1-2 Parenthood of Hidalgo County has been selected as one of the Best
1-3 of Texas programs for 1995 by the Corporate Fund for Children, and
1-4 this special recognition is indeed well deserved; and
1-5 WHEREAS, Each year the Corporate Fund for Children searches
1-6 communities throughout the state for innovative programs that are
1-7 improving the lives of children and their families; to qualify for
1-8 receipt of this prestigious honor, programs must offer unique
1-9 solutions to persistent social problems, assist traditionally
1-10 underserved populations, respect multiculturally diverse
1-11 populations, and be model programs that other communities can
1-12 emulate; and
1-13 WHEREAS, The Minority AIDS Education Program was launched by
1-14 Planned Parenthood of Hidalgo County in 1988 when the group secured
1-15 a grant to check the rapid spread of HIV infection in the local
1-16 minority population; now in its eighth year of service to Hidalgo
1-17 and Starr County residents, the program has educated almost 50,000
1-18 individuals on AIDS prevention and in recent years has expanded its
1-19 services to offer HIV-testing and counseling at five area clinics;
1-20 and
1-21 WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood's AIDS coordinators target those
1-22 individuals most at risk for contracting the disease in the
1-23 community, including teenagers, migrant workers, gang members,
1-24 women of child-bearing age, and gay men, and tailor presentations
2-1 on AIDS education and prevention to the unique perspective of each
2-2 client population; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Recognizing the vital stake families have in AIDS
2-4 prevention, the program encourages husbands and wives to talk
2-5 openly with each other about their sexual practices and to stress
2-6 to their children the risks of drug and alcohol abuse and giving in
2-7 to peer pressure, which can ultimately result in an HIV infection;
2-8 and
2-9 WHEREAS, The staff of Planned Parenthood have made
2-10 significant strides in reaching those most at risk for developing
2-11 an infection and have been asked to share their expertise in
2-12 identifying and targeting these populations with the Prevention
2-13 Planning Coalition of the Texas Department of Health; and
2-14 WHEREAS, To achieve its mission, Planned Parenthood has
2-15 collaborated with the Hidalgo County Health Department, The
2-16 University of Texas--Pan American, and the Midwest Migrant Health
2-17 Information Organization as well as a number of other groups
2-18 working in this area, and the organization has received essential
2-19 funding from the Texas Department of Health and the Levi Strauss
2-20 Foundation; and
2-21 WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood of Hidalgo County joins two other
2-22 groups in the Valley who have been designated Best of Texas
2-23 programs this year, Project ARISE and the Border Association for
2-24 Refugees from Central America (BARCA), a truly noteworthy
2-25 accomplishment that is directly attributable to local citizens'
2-26 sincere concern for the welfare of others; and
2-27 WHEREAS, The outstanding AIDS education efforts of Planned
3-1 Parenthood of Hidalgo County have made remarkable progress in
3-2 slowing the spread of this devastating illness in the Valley
3-3 community, and the many dedicated individuals who have made this
3-4 excellent program a success are truly deserving of our highest
3-5 praise and recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it
3-6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas
3-7 Legislature hereby congratulate Planned Parenthood of Hidalgo
3-8 County on their receipt of a Best of Texas designation for their
3-9 outstanding work in promoting greater AIDS awareness among local
3-10 citizens through the Minority AIDS Education Program; and, be it
3-11 further
3-12 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
3-13 prepared for Planned Parenthood of Hidalgo County as an expression
3-14 of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.