44th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2000

REQUESTING THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO CONTRACT WITH "CHILDREN, OUR HIDDEN TREASURES" TO DESIGN AND ADMINISTER A PILOT PROJECT FOR ASSEMBLIES IN SCHOOLS TO SHOW THE REALITY AND HARDSHIPS OF SINGLE PARENTING.

WHEREAS, children from single parent homes are considered at risk, being four times as likely to be in the juvenile justice system, three times as likely to repeat the cycle and become single parents themselves and six times as likely to end up in abject poverty; and

WHEREAS, many children from single parent homes suffer from time neglect because, with work, there simply are not enough hours in the day for parents to fully meet the needs of their children; and

WHEREAS, many children born to single, school-age juveniles suffer greatly by the inability of the parent to take care of the child emotionally, physically, educationally or financially; and

WHEREAS, the reality of juvenile parenting is not fully understood by juveniles capable of having children;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the human services department be requested to contract with "Children, Our Hidden Treasures", a nonprofit corporation working with single parents and their children, to design and administer a pilot project for assemblies in the schools using a variety of media, including testimonials of single parents, to show the reality and hardship to both children and parents caused by single parenting and the financial hardship usually encumbered by federal and state government as a result of the costly care necessary to help those parents and their children; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the human services department and the state department of public education.