TITLE: Recognizing the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas, Incorporated, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.

SUMMARY: Recognizing the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas, Incorporated, on the occasion of its 20th anniversary.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, In 1991, the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas, Incorporated, was created as a charitable organization to specifically address the needs of several hundred thousand medically underserved Texas children belonging to families who cannot afford health insurance yet cannot qualify for Medicaid; and WHEREAS, Through its first program, from 1992 to 1999, Caring for Children enrolled more than 6,700 uninsured children and provided them with access to doctor office visits for annual well care and sick care, outpatient surgery, and prescription drugs; and WHEREAS, The foundation launched its second program, the Care Van Program, in 1997; this mobile immunization outreach program focused on improving access to immunizations in the communities by conducting immunization events at schools, churches, community centers, restaurants, parks, and fire stations; the program has grown to a fleet of 10 vans serving eight regions of the state, and as of the beginning of 2011, it has screened or immunized more than 500,000 medically underserved children and provided more than 830,000 immunizations; and WHEREAS, Preventive dental care services are also important to a child's health; the Caring for Children Foundation has launched community collaborations to provide dental exams and sealants to preschool and elementary school children, and since 2009 more than 53,000 children have received these preventive dental services; and WHEREAS, One of the keys to the foundation's success in all three of these health initiatives has been a commitment to cooperation and coordination with the Texas Department of State Health Services, local health departments, the Texas Medical Association, individual health professionals, hospitals, civic groups, churches, school districts, fire departments, and volunteers, all of which have provided invaluable resources and staffing to assist in the foundation's efforts; and WHEREAS, Since the creation of the Caring for Children Foundation 20 years ago, its primary statewide sponsor has been Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, which has provided 100 percent of all the administrative expenses to the foundation, allowing all donations to the foundation to go directly for delivery of care; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd Legislature, hereby commend the Caring for Children Foundation of Texas, Incorporated, for providing much-needed care to the medically underserved children of Texas for two decades and extend to the foundation congratulations on its 20th anniversary and best wishes for continued success; and, be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the foundation as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. Ellis President of the Senate I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 28, 2011.