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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, More than a quarter of a million Texas children are |
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being raised by a relative other than their parents; and |
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WHEREAS, Grandparents often take on the responsibility of |
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raising their grandchildren when needed, and by stepping forward to |
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provide them with a loving home, they help ensure that their |
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grandchildren do not enter or remain in the foster care system; and |
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WHEREAS, These grandparents are commonly informal kinship |
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caregivers who often receive limited financial assistance from the |
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state and who have limited authority to make important everyday |
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decisions for the well-being of their grandchildren; some struggle |
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to economically support their families and to access the mental and |
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behavioral health resources that they and their grandchildren need; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The nonprofit Texas Grandparents Raising |
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Grandchildren works tirelessly to empower and advocate for children |
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and families across the Lone Star State by providing support groups |
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and connecting grandparents with community resources; TXGRG |
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benefits from the leadership of its executive director, Mercedes |
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Bristol, who founded the organization after adopting five of her |
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grandchildren in 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, Through its relentless advocacy before the |
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legislature, Texas Grandparents Raising Grandchildren has |
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increased awareness of the issues grandparent caregivers face and |
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helped them to build a brighter future for their families, and the |
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organization has earned the deep and lasting gratitude of all those |
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whose lives have been touched by its vital work; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize January 30, 2025, as Grandparents |
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Raising Grandchildren Day, honor the nonprofit Texas Grandparents |
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Raising Grandchildren for its contributions to the State of Texas, |
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and celebrate the integral role that grandparent caregivers play. |