SPRINGFIELD… State Representative Mike Marron, (R-Fithian) released the following statement after passing House Resolution 52 out of committee and over to the House Floor for further debate today.
Rep Marron said, “Today, I passed House Resolution 52 out of the Mental Health and Addiction committee that now heads to the House Floor for a full chamber vote. I was inspired to create this resolution after attending a Vermilion County Youth Leadership Conference hosted by the Danville High School Future Problem Solvers Club this January.
“Maci K. Long, a Junior at Bismarck-Henning-Rossville-Alvin Cooperative High School, was a huge advocate during this conference on the serious need for mental health resources in our school system.
“Maci Long plays the drums in the Marching Blue school band and pep band, is a member of the student council, and serves as Treasurer for the Kiwanis Key Club. She is a devoted member of the community and volunteers regularly with organizations like Danville Noon Kiwanis, Bismarck Lions Club, and bell ringer for The Salvation Army.
“I love working with our amazing student leaders in the 104th District, because their passion and breadth of ideas is very inspiring. My House Resolution urges the Illinois State Board of Education to actively recruit mental health professionals and pursue providing enough access to students so that, by the end of the decade, every high school student in Illinois can have one hour of mental health counseling per semester.
“Students learn best in an environment where they feel safe, valued, and capable. This resolution stands in strong support of providing staff members to students at all grade levels who care about them and their mental health.
“School age children experience critical emotional growth and develop social skills that will provide them benefits for a lifetime, and this growth is best fostered by trained mental health professionals.
“I am so thankful for my amazing student leaders in my district like Maci Long, who continue to make my role of State Representative the most rewarding and enjoyable.
“With this resolution, I continue to stand behind all our young students in Illinois facing a modern world with many unique hurdles and challenges that lay ahead of them. We need to ensure vital resources are in place to aid their growth as the future of our State.”
