SENATE RESOLUTION

                            8695

By Senators Shin and Rasmussen

    WHEREAS, In today's world, our youth are faced with extraordinary challenges as more and more responsibility is coupled with an increasing presence of unhealthy choices; and

    WHEREAS, Violence, drug and alcohol abuse, tobacco use, obesity, stress, and loneliness are all prevalent among our youth as the traditional family structure is being obliterated by outside influences in today's society; and

    WHEREAS, More and more youth are growing up in single parent households, with that parent working longer and longer hours just to make ends meet; and

    WHEREAS, Spending more hours at work means spending less time with family, and with more and more parents working longer hours, parents are more concerned about the safety of their children; and

    WHEREAS, Our youth need guidance and assistance by responsible, caring adults more than ever; and

    WHEREAS, Statistics have shown that eighty percent of adolescent crime nationally occurs from three o'clock p.m. to six o'clock p.m., a time in which children often find themselves alone with no place to go after school; and

    WHEREAS, This is a crucial window of time, when a child's choices can have a lasting impact on their lives; and

    WHEREAS, Children need positive after-school activities provided by responsible, caring adult role models; and

    WHEREAS, 2001 is the one-hundred-year anniversary of the Snohomish County YMCA, and the Mukilteo Family YMCA is its most recent addition; and

    WHEREAS, The Mukilteo Family YMCA, under the direction of Executive Director Jeff Dunleavy, his staff, Chairman of the Board Doug Zook, and Board Members, is addressing these issues through their commitment to youth and teens by positively affecting more lives than any other human service agency in the Mukilteo School District area; and

    WHEREAS, The Mukilteo Family YMCA conducts a number of programs designed to provide stimulating and engaging activities for youth and teenagers, including:  Before and after child care provided at five elementary schools in the Mukilteo School District, serving all eleven elementary schools; late-night "Friday Night Teen Program" at Mariner High School; "Club Explorer" after-school program at Explorer Middle School; environmental clubs, leadership clubs, summer camps, and partnerships between students and law enforcement, such as "Club Connections" serving Mariner High School; and infant/toddler child care, provided at ACES High School, serving teen parents working towards achieving their high school diploma; and

    WHEREAS, The Mukilteo Family YMCA is planning future programs to include "Late Night" at the Mukilteo Family YMCA serving students from Kamiak, monthly dances at the Mukilteo Family YMCA serving middle school students, and "Teen Court," a leadership club at Mariner High School where the students assume all roles of the courtroom environment while presiding over real cases involving their peers;

    NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the members of the Washington State Senate recognize the Snohomish County YMCA for one hundred years of service to the community and the Mukilteo Family YMCA for demonstrating exceptional care and concern for the community through its commitment to our youth; and

    BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate immediately transmit a copy of this resolution to the Snohomish County YMCA, the Mukilteo Family YMCA, Jeff Dunleavy, Doug Zook, and each member of the Board of the Mukilteo Family YMCA.

I, Tony M. Cook, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 8695,

adopted by the Senate May 18, 2001.

TONY M. COOK

Secretary of the Senate