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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For 115 years, Family Support Services of Amarillo |
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has played a vital role in helping to ensure that individuals and |
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families across the Panhandle are healthy, stable, and free of |
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violence by providing comprehensive advocacy, education, and |
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intervention services; and |
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WHEREAS, The history of FSS dates back to 1908, when a group |
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of local businessmen established the Associated Charities to serve |
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the Amarillo community; over the years, the organization merged |
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with a number of existing groups combatting domestic violence and |
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providing family services; in 1993, it was reorganized under the |
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name Family Support Services of Amarillo; FFS provides a safe haven |
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for adults and children who have suffered trauma, domestic |
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violence, assault, and trafficking and provides counseling and |
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other behavioral health services; and |
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WHEREAS, Focused on healing, stability, and well-being, FFS |
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serves numerous people in the Panhandle region each year; the |
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organization empowers individuals and families through its many |
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robust programs, including advocacy services, behavioral health |
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and wellness, education and prevention, emergency housing, and |
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veterans resources; through its programs, FSS makes information and |
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training available on the prevention of dating violence, child |
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abuse, teen suicide, and substance abuse, while also extending |
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support to new parents; the organization's programs and services |
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also include a Veterans Resource Center, which helps veterans, |
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family members, and surviving spouses to find housing and |
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employment and to access available benefits; and |
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WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 pandemic, FSS continued to |
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deliver on its promise to assist vulnerable members of the |
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community, even as the organization confronted new challenges; in |
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January 2020, its building in downtown Amarillo was destroyed in a |
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fire, forcing staff to operate out of a temporary location before a |
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new office was secured later in the year; FSS recently moved into a |
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renovated, state-of-the-art office facility, which will allow the |
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organization more space to provide enhanced services to the |
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community; and |
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WHEREAS, Guided by integrity, expertise, and commitment to |
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service, the FSS executive team includes chief executive officer |
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Jim Womack, chief operating officer Terry Stroud, chief development |
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officer Joette Campbell, director of behavioral health and wellness |
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Kathy Tortoreo, director of education Brandi Reed, Veterans |
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Resource Center director Verlene Dickson, director of advocacy |
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services Michelle Shields, director of administrative services |
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Veronica Villanueva, and director of donor engagement Christy |
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Bertolino; serving on the organization's board are president Freida |
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Toler, president-elect Lisa Simpson, treasurer David Meraz, |
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secretary Jenni Winegarner, and members Brad Baldridge, William |
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Bailey, Brittainy Barber, Jason McCoy, Shauna Moore, Alex |
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Yarbrough, Allison Roberts, David Lovejoy, Debra McCartt, and |
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Russell Johnson; and |
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WHEREAS, Family Support Services of Amarillo has helped |
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countless individuals and families as they take the first steps |
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toward healing and change, and all those who are involved in this |
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remarkable organization are deserving of recognition for their |
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contributions; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 115th anniversary of Family |
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Support Services of Amarillo and extend sincere best wishes for |
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continued success to its staff, directors, volunteers, and other |
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personnel; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |