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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, During the transition from childhood to adulthood, |
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adolescents often fail to receive regular primary health care |
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screenings and treatment that could greatly improve their current |
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and future health; and |
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WHEREAS, Many adolescents are adversely affected by serious |
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health and safety issues, such as motor vehicle crashes, violence, |
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and substance abuse; they also struggle to adopt behaviors that |
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could decrease their risk of developing chronic diseases in |
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adulthood--behaviors such as eating nutritiously, engaging in |
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physical activity, and choosing not to use tobacco; a number of |
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environmental factors, such as family, peer group, school, and |
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community characteristics, contribute to the challenges that |
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adolescents face; and |
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WHEREAS, Adolescence is a critical time for developing |
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positive habits and skills that can lead to healthy behaviors over |
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an individual's lifetime; the Institute of Medicine and the |
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National Research Council conducted a study that found that one |
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important factor in designing an adolescent health service is the |
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focus on prevention of disease; one of the conclusions of the study |
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was that "prevention, early intervention and timely treatment |
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improve the health status for adolescents, prepare them for healthy |
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adulthood, and decrease the incidence of many chronic diseases in |
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adulthood"; and |
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WHEREAS, In the past few years, immunizations have been |
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licensed to provide protection for teens against such illnesses as |
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meningococcal infections, pertussis, or whooping cough, and |
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cervical cancer; the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices |
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specifically recommends the use of FDA-approved vaccines for |
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pertussis, tetanus, and meningitis, in adolescents; a national |
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survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
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(CDC) found, however, that immunization coverage levels among |
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adolescents in 2006 failed to meet the Healthy People 2010 |
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objective of 90 percent coverage for youth aged 13 through 15 for |
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any of the vaccines measured; and |
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WHEREAS, Numerous organizations have emphasized the |
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importance of routine screenings and inoculations in promoting the |
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health of adolescents; the Society for Adolescent Medicine has |
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found that adolescent well physicals are one of the most effective |
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of preventive care tools for ensuring continued health from |
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childhood to adulthood and that adolescents who regularly visit a |
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primary care physician are less likely to visit emergency rooms and |
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have preventable hospitalizations and are more likely to receive |
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recommended immunizations and other evidence-based health care |
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services; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) |
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is the agency responsible for the implementation of the Adolescent |
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Health Program, which maintains a comprehensive and holistic view |
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of adolescents' health and well-being and provides information on |
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adolescent health through consultation, technical assistance, and |
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educational presentations to local, state, public, and private |
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agencies; in addition, DSHS is the agency that houses the Texas |
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Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Program, the |
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Texas Asthma Control Program, the Immunization Branch, and the |
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School Health Program, all of which have a significant, positive |
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impact on the health and well-being of adolescent Texans; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas Education Agency (TEA) provides education |
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to children and parents about healthy practices and behaviors |
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through the curriculum it requires for health, fitness, and life |
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skills courses, as well as through the activity of the TEA Division |
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of Health and Safety, which provides coordination, leadership, |
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policy development, and implementation assistance for specific |
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state and federal requirements and programs that emphasize |
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providing students with opportunities to achieve their maximum |
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potential for a safe and healthy lifestyle; and |
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WHEREAS, Additionally, the Health Resources and Services |
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Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
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has developed, in conjunction with the American Academy of |
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Pediatricians, the Bright Futures initiative, which provides a set |
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of guidelines for adolescent care, including recommendations on |
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immunizations and routine health screenings; for its part, the CDC |
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has launched a national campaign to raise awareness about |
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adolescent health and immunizations; and |
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WHEREAS, Parents' awareness of the need for adolescent well |
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visits is a crucial factor in determining whether their children |
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receive routine health care and preventive treatment; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby express its support of efforts to improve adolescent health |
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by educating parents about the fundamental importance of |
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adolescents' receiving regular physical exams and updated |
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immunizations; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the legislature direct the Texas Department of |
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State Health Services and the Texas Education Agency and all other |
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state agencies that provide information, services, or support to |
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adolescent Texans or their parents to seek out opportunities to |
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educate them as to the importance of these exams and of acquiring |
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recommended immunizations and the positive impact that these |
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measures will have on adolescents' long-term health and well-being; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the commissioner of the Texas |
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Department of State Health Services and the commissioner of |
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education. |
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* * * * * |