Introduced Version
House Concurrent Resolution 53 History
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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 53
(By Delegates Perdue, Hatfield, Wooton, Campbell, Phillips,
Marshall, Staggers, Manypenny, Susman, Rodighiero, Lawrence,
Fleischauer, Eldridge, D. Poling, C. Miller, J. Miller, Rowan and
Border)
[Originating in the Committee on Health and Human Resources;
Reported March 30, 2009.]
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to conduct
a study on identifying good perinatal health education models
or developing models in West Virginia.
W
HEREAS
, West Virginia women under the age of twenty have
higher rates of premature births, low birth-rates and infant
mortality than that of older women. The rate of births to this
group in the State has been increasing - higher than the national
average; and
W
HEREAS
, In West Virginia from 2002-2004, infant mortality
rates were highest for women under twenty years of age(13.6 infant
deaths per 1,000 live births), compared to all West Virginia live
births (8.0 infant deaths per 1,000 live births); and
W
HEREAS
, The majority of poor birth outcomes in women under
twenty years of age are directly related to a lack of knowledge and
misinformation about how to have a healthy pregnancy and a healthy
baby; and
W
HEREAS
, Access to adequate perinatal health, life skills and
wellness education would improve opportunities for students to make
informed decisions about planning for a healthy pregnancy and
parenting; and
W
HEREAS
, This can also be accomplished through professional
development for health educators, along with additional space for
the purpose of conducting health classes in the school system; and
W
HEREAS
, Healthy lifestyles questions should be included in
core testing for students; and
W
HEREAS
, It is the Legislature's intent to reduce poor birth
outcomes for women under twenty years of age by conducting a study
comparing perinatal outcomes and perinatal and parenting
educational opportunities. The study will assist in identifying
one or more county school systems that could serve as models of
perinatal education for the State, and will allow for the
development of recommendations to address the State's poor birth
outcomes for this age group; and
W
HEREAS
, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
have studied health education curricula and their effectiveness,
and
W
HEREAS
, This data shows that various school systems in West
Virginia have implemented some type of educational program for the
purpose of preparing young people for their future role as a
parent; and
W
HEREAS
, A core curriculum should be developed through an
analysis comparing the curriculum to certain perinatal health
outcomes such as infant mortality, low birth weight, infant
morbidity and other indicators; therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby
requested to study and identify model curriculums and any county
school systems with good perinatal health education for the purpose
of planning to make improvements in perinatal and birth outcomes
for both parents twenty years of age and under and their newborn
infants; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and
Finance direct that the Legislative Oversight Commission on
Education Accountability and the Legislative Oversight Commission
on Health and Human Resources Accountability work with the
Department of Education and other interested parties to accomplish
these goals and report to the regular session of the Legislature,
2010, on its findings, conclusions and recommendations, together
with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its
recommendations; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this
study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be
paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on
Government and Finance.