III 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 259 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 11 through 

September 15, 2017, as ‘‘National Family Service Learning Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2017 

Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. BROWN, Mr. PAUL, Mr. 

PORTMAN, Mr. REED, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. WICKER, 

and Mr. PETERS) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 11 through September 15, 2017, as ‘‘National 

Family Service Learning Week’’. 

Whereas family service learning is a method under which 

children and families learn and solve problems together 

in a multi-generational approach with active participation 

in thoughtfully organized service that— 

(1) is conducted in, and meets the needs of, their 

communities; 

(2) is focused on children and families solving community issues together; 

(3) requires the application of college and career 

readiness skills by children and relevant workforce training skills by adults; and 


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•SRES 259 ATS 

(4) is coordinated between the community and an elementary school, a secondary school, an institution of 

higher education, or a family community service program; 

Whereas family service learning— 

(1) is multi-generational learning that involves parents, children, caregivers, and extended family members 

in shared learning experiences in physical and digital environments; 

(2) is integrated into and enhances the academic 

achievement of children or the educational components of 

a family service program in which families may be enrolled; and 

(3) promotes skills (such as investigation, planning, 

and preparation), action, reflection, the demonstration of 

results, and sustainability; 

Whereas family service learning has been shown to have positive 2-generational effects and encourages families to invest in their communities to improve economic and societal well-being; 

Whereas, through family service learning, children and families have the opportunity to solve community issues and 

learn together, thereby enabling the development of life 

and career skills, such as flexibility and adaptability, initiative and self-direction, social and cross-cultural skills, 

productivity and accountability, and leadership and responsibility; 

Whereas family service learning activities provide opportunities for families to improve essential skills, such as organization, research, planning, reading and writing, technological literacy, teamwork, and sharing; 


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Whereas families participating together in service are afforded quality time learning about their communities; 

Whereas adults engaged in family service learning serve as 

positive role models for their children; 

Whereas family service learning projects enable families to 

build substantive connections with their communities, develop a stronger sense of self-worth, experience a reduction in social isolation, and improve parenting skills; 

Whereas family service learning has added benefits for 

English language learners by helping individuals and 

families to— 

(1) feel more connected with their communities; and 

(2) practice language skills; 

Whereas family service learning is particularly important for 

at-risk families because family service learning— 

(1) provides opportunities for leadership and civic 

engagement; and 

(2) helps build the capacity to advocate for the 

needs of children and families; and 

Whereas the value that parents place on civic engagement 

and relationships within the community has been shown 

to transfer to children who, in turn, replicate important 

values, such as responsibility, empathy, and caring for 

others: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the designation of the week of Sep3 tember 11 through September 15, 2017, as ‘‘Na4 tional Family Service Learning Week’’ to raise pub5 lic awareness about the importance of family service 


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•SRES 259 ATS 

1 learning, family literacy, community service, and 2- 

2 generational learning experiences; 

3 (2) encourages people across the United States 

4 to support family service learning and community 

5 development programs; 

6 (3) recognizes the importance that family serv7 ice learning plays in cultivating family literacy, civic 

8 engagement, and community investment; and 

9 (4) calls upon public, private, and nonprofit en10 tities to support family service learning opportunities 

11 to aid in the advancement of families. 

Æ 


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