HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 92-4759, by Representatives Basich, Brumsickle, Dorn, Kremen, Wineberry, Leonard, Heavey, G. Cole, McLean, Rasmussen, Franklin, Rayburn, Hochstatter, Belcher, Winsley, O'Brien, Jacobsen, Ludwig, Pruitt, Riley, Miller, Bray, R. Johnson, Vance, Lisk, J. Kohl, Hargrove, Spanel, Van Luven, G. Fisher, Fraser, Jones, Paris, Ogden, Wilson, Roland, Wynne, Sheldon, Morris, R. King, Nelson, Valle, Anderson, Inslee, Ferguson, Appelwick, Neher, Mielke, Tate, Peery, Beck and Hine

    WHEREAS, The House of Representatives, by House Resolution No. 91-4714, unanimously adopted on June 28, 1991, a self-esteem resolution that focused on parents and schools and defined self-esteem as "appreciating my own worth and importance and having the character to be accountable for myself and to act responsibly toward others"; and

    WHEREAS, House Resolution No. 91-4714 further declared that a lack of self-esteem to be central to most personal and social issues facing citizens of this state and a strong social vaccine against crime, violence, and substance abuse; and

    WHEREAS, Current research on delinquency prevention and substance abuse has added to our body of knowledge that a strong self worth and an attachment to family, school, and community is an effective antidote against a life of crime, anti-social and destructive behavior, gangs, domestic violence, and prostitution; and

    WHEREAS, Lack of self-esteem is a causal factor in educational failure and that failure to learn can be catastrophic for the individual and staggering in its cost to society; and

    WHEREAS, Families are the most crucial ingredient in nurturing a sense of self-esteem, and social service agencies or programs which provide support services can enhance family efforts to build self-esteem; and

    WHEREAS, Being dependent on social services can be destructive to self-esteem, encourage learned helplessness, and undermine one's efforts to be personally and socially responsible unless assistance is administered in a way that is sensitive to every person's need for dignity and respect;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That every individual citizen, social service organization, school, family, and community, is strongly urged by the House of Representatives to make a commitment, both individually and collectively, to preventing delinquency and substance abuse among youth in this state and to actively contribute of ourselves, our time and our experience to this purpose; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That every person, group, institution, program, and publication who are involved in operating programs or otherwise seeking to address in either preventative or curative ways the many social problems which plague our nation is strongly urged by the House of Representatives to adopt the promotion of self-esteem and personal and social responsibility as a clearly stated goal; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That every adult citizen, both individually and as groups, is strongly urged to practice lawful behavior on a daily basis and be cognizant that we are role models for young people in this state; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That every citizen of this state is strongly urged to actively and openly practice decision-making skills that resolve problems in a responsible manner and make a commitment to helping young people learn these skills; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That every parent has an obligation to teach skills and values which foster self worth and individual responsibility, that balance individual and community needs, that offer opportunities to practice self control and effective communication, and emulate lawful behavior; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That every business has a civic duty to provide opportunities that enable youth to develop practical work skills and ethics, to earn an income commensurate with the work involved, and provide paths for youth toward lawful, responsible existence in their communities; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That communities and schools have a social responsibility to provide opportunities which enable youth to practice lawful behavior, achieve academic success, and engage in social and recreational activities that promote self-esteem, individual accomplishment and contribution, sportsmanship, and connection to community; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That programs and agencies which are seeking to address social problems act in a coordinated fashion, building upon existing efforts of interagency cooperation, in order to enhance delivery of services and the promotion of self-esteem; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives to the superintendent of public instruction, the secretary of the department of social and health services, the commissioner of the employment security department, the director of the department of labor and industries, the secretary of the department of corrections, and the secretary of the department of health, the association of Washington businesses for distribution to local chamber of commerce groups, associations of Washington cities and counties, the Washington educational association, the Washington school directors association, the Washington association of superintendents, and the association of Washington school principals.

             I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of

             Resolution 4759 adopted by the House of Representatives

                                 March 4, 1992.

                         ________________________________

                           Alan Thompson, Chief Clerk