III 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 556 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 12 through 

September 16, 2016, as ‘‘National Family Service Learning Week’’. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 

Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. PETERS, and 

Ms. MIKULSKI) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 

the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 12 through September 16, 2016, 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) applies college and career readiness skills for 

children and relevant workforce training skills for adults; 

and 


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•SRES 556 IS 

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

education, or 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 the children or the educational components of a family service program in which the families 

may be enrolled; and 

(3) encompasses skills, such as investigation, planning and preparation, action, reflection, 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 are offered 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, technology, teamwork, and sharing; 


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•SRES 556 IS 

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 it— 

(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 the child who, in turn, replicates 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 12 through September 16, 2016, as ‘‘Na4 tional Family Service Learning Week’’ to raise pub5 lic awareness about the importance of family service 


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•SRES 556 IS 

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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