Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 21 through September 25, 2020, as "National Family Service Learning Week".

IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 1180 Expressing support for the designation of the week of September 21 through September 25, 2020, as ‘‘National Family Service Learning Week’’. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 2, 2020 Mr. YARMUTH (for himself, Mr. TAYLOR, and Ms. TITUS) submitted the fol- lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of the week of Sep- tember 21 through September 25, 2020, as ‘‘National Family Service Learning Week’’. Whereas family service learning is a method under which children and families learn and solve problems together in a multigenerational approach with active participation in thoughtfully organized service that— (1) is conducted in, and meets the needs of, their communities; (2) is focused on children and families solving com- munity issues together; (3) requires the application of college and career readiness skills by children and relevant workforce train- ing skills by adults; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1180.IH HR1180 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 1180 IH (4) is coordinated between the community and an el- ementary school, a secondary school, an institution of higher education, or a family community service program; Whereas family service learning— (1) is multigenerational learning that involves par- ents, children, caregivers, and extended family members in shared learning experiences in physical and digital en- vironments; (2) is integrated into and enhances the academic achievement of children or the educational components of a family service program in which families may be en- rolled; and (3) promotes skills (such as investigation, planning, and preparation), action, reflection, the demonstration of results, and sustainability; Whereas family service learning has been shown to have posi- tive 2-generational effects and encourages families to in- vest in their communities to improve economic and soci- etal well-being; Whereas, through family service learning, children and fami- lies have the opportunity to solve community issues and learn together, thereby enabling the development of life and career skills, such as flexibility and adaptability, ini- tiative and self-direction, social and cross-cultural skills, productivity and accountability, and leadership and re- sponsibility; Whereas family service learning activities provide opportuni- ties for families to improve essential skills, such as orga- nization, research, planning, reading and writing, techno- logical literacy, teamwork, and sharing; VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1180.IH HR1180 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 1180 IH Whereas families participating together in service are af- forded quality time learning about their communities; Whereas adults engaged in family service learning serve as positive role models for their children; Whereas family service learning projects enable families to build substantive connections with their communities, de- velop a stronger sense of self-worth, experience a reduc- tion in social isolation, and improve parenting skills; Whereas family service learning has added benefits for English language learners by helping individuals and families to— (1) feel more connected with their communities; and (2) practice language skills; Whereas family service learning is particularly important for at-risk families because family service learning— (1) provides opportunities for leadership and civic engagement; and (2) helps build the capacity to advocate for the needs of children and families; Whereas family service learning programs are equipped to face the unique challenges brought on by the COVID–19 pandemic through community engagement via video tele- conferencing or in a socially distanced manner; Whereas family service learning will remain relevant through- out the pandemic as communities face new challenges such as navigating remote learning, technological literacy, and building and maintaining new relationships within communities; and Whereas the value that parents place on civic engagement and relationships within the community has been shown to transfer to children who, in turn, replicate important VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR1180.IH HR1180 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 1180 IH values, such as responsibility, empathy, and caring for others: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) supports the designation of ‘‘National Fam- 2 ily Service Learning Week’’ to raise public aware- 3 ness about the importance of family service learning, 4 family literacy, community service, and 2-generation- 5 al learning experiences; 6 (2) encourages people across the United States 7 to support family service learning and community 8 development programs; 9 (3) recognizes the importance that family serv- 10 ice learning plays in cultivating family literacy, civic 11 engagement, and community investment; and 12 (4) calls upon public, private, and nonprofit en- 13 tities to support family service learning opportunities 14 to aid in the advancement of families. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Oct 03, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR1180.IH HR1180 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS