HOUSE RESOLUTION NO.2003-4634, by Representatives Dickerson, Kagi, Boldt, Ahern, Alexander, Anderson, Armstrong, Bailey, Benson, Berkey, Blake, Buck, Bush, Cairnes, Campbell, Carrell, Chandler, Chase, Chopp, Clements, Clibborn, Cody, Condotta, Conway, Cooper, Cox, Crouse, Darneille, DeBolt, Delvin, Dunshee, Edwards, Eickmeyer, Ericksen, Flannigan, Fromhold, Gombosky, Grant, Haigh, Hankins, Hatfield, Hinkle, Holmquist, Hudgins, Hunt, Hunter, Jarrett, Kenney, Kessler, Kirby, Kristiansen, Lantz, Linville, Lovick, Mastin, McCoy, McDermott, McDonald, McIntire, McMahan, McMorris, Mielke, Miloscia, Moeller, Morrell, Morris, Murray, Newhouse, Nixon, O'Brien, Orcutt, Pearson, Pettigrew, Pflug, Priest, Quall, Roach, Rockefeller, Romero, Ruderman, Santos, Schindler, Schoesler, Schual-Berke, Sehlin, Shabro, Simpson, Skinner, Sommers, Sullivan, Sump, Talcott, Tom, Upthegrove, Veloria, Wallace, Wood and Woods

     WHEREAS, The state of Washington lost a true champion for vulnerable children with the death of Rosalyn "Rosie" Oreskovich on February 28, 2003; and
     WHEREAS, Rosie's life was dedicated to the protection of abused and neglected children in our state; and
     WHEREAS, Rosie worked diligently throughout her twenty-seven year career to improve child welfare services, starting as a social worker in 1976 with the Department of Social and Health Services; and
     WHEREAS, Rosie returned to the Department of Social and Health Services in 1994, ultimately rising through the ranks to become Assistant Secretary of the Children's Administration; and
     WHEREAS, The foster care system was transformed under Rosie's leadership, from one mired in troubles and inconsistencies to one that has successfully increased the recruitment and retention of foster care parents, the number of adoptions, the number of relative placements, and the number of reunifications in this state, and one which continues to strive for stability and permanence in children's lives; and
     WHEREAS, Under Rosie's leadership, the Department of Social and Health Services embarked upon a campaign called "Kids Come First Action Agenda" to ensure that child protective and welfare services clearly prioritize the needs of abused and neglected children in this state; and
     WHEREAS, Rosie's dedication to instilling best practice reforms in the state's child welfare system helped launch a statewide effort to become accredited by the National Council on Accreditation, an effort that was first inspired by the successful accreditation of the Vancouver office under Rosie's stewardship; and
     WHEREAS, Rosie inspired respect and admiration among her staff, colleagues, and elected officials and won wide recognition for her contributions to the national dialogue on child well-being in this country;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, The House of Representatives praise the contributions made to our great state by Rosalyn Oreskovich, a remarkable individual whose tireless commitment to children leaves a lasting legacy for all residents in our state, and whose contributions to our state will never be forgotten.

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct copy of
Resolution 4634 adopted by the House of Representatives
March 5, 2003

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Cynthia Zehnder, Chief Clerk