LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring the Healthy Environments and Relation-
ships that Support Initiative upon the occasion of being selected to
receive the 2014 University at Albany President's Award for Exemplary
Community Engagement on April 25, 2014

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those organiza-
tions and individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the
community and its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor the
Healthy Environments and Relationships that Support Initiative convened
by Dr. Heather Larkin, Associate Professor, School of Social Welfare,
University at Albany, in partnership with the LaSalle School, St. Anne
Institute, Prevent Child Abuse New York, St. Catherine's Center for
Children, Troy Housing Authority, Parsons Child and Family
Center/Northeast Parent and Child Society, Senior Hope, Center for Disa-
bility Services, Trinity Alliance of the Capital Region, Community
Hospice, The WAIT House, Soldier's Hope, Interfaith Partnership for the
Homeless, Homeless and Travelers' Aid Society, and Healthy Hearts on the
Hill upon the occasion of being selected to receive the 2014 University
at Albany President's Award for Exemplary Community Engagement, which
was celebrated at an Award Ceremony at the University at Albany, Albany,
New York; and
WHEREAS, This esteemed award honors University at Albany-community
partnerships which are enhancing public well-being in the Capital Region
and beyond; their community engagement is a collaboration between higher
education institutions and external partners in the mutually beneficial
exchange of knowledge and resources to address areas of public need; and
WHEREAS, The Healthy Environments and Relationships that Support
(HEARTS) Initiative, involving both community-engaged research and
service, directly connects practitioners in the community with emerging
research; and
WHEREAS, The 16 aforementioned organizational partners work together
to improve program and community responses to prevent and address
adverse childhood experiences, and their costly health and social conse-
quences; and
WHEREAS, Adverse childhood experiences are linked to high-cost risk
behaviors later in life, including substance abuse, psychosocial prob-
lems, and biomedical diseases, among others; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Heather Larkin's work at the School of Social Welfare to
co-develop a multidimensional intervention plan led to the HEARTS Initi-
ative, which seeks to improve standards of care for children and adults;
and
WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of Dr. Heather Larkin, the
initiative is one of the first instances of a large-scale collaboration
among the region's social service providers; and
WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body that when indi-
viduals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor the Healthy Environments and Relationships that Support Initiative
upon the occasion of being selected to receive the 2014 University at
Albany President's Award for Exemplary Community Engagement on April 25,
2014; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Healthy Environments and Relationships that Support
Initiative.