As Introduced
133rd General Assembly
Regular Session H. C. R. No. 25
2019-2020
Representatives West, Upchurch
Cosponsors: Representatives Brinkman, Kent, Lightbody, Weinstein, Crossman,
Crawley, Smith, K., Lepore-Hagan, Miranda
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Urging the Governor to declare a State of Emergency on 1
Childhood Trauma in Ohio. 2
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
OHIO (THE SENATE CONCURRING):
3
WHEREAS, Emerging research in neuroscience and psychology 4
reported by the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) 5
shows that trauma has a foundational impact on various aspects 6
of human development across the lifespan; and 7
WHEREAS, According to the NCTSN, complex trauma 8
differentially impacts vulnerable, marginalized, 9
underrepresented, and at-risk people experiencing poverty, 10
disability, or systemic oppression due to race, religion, gender 11
identity, or sexual orientation; and 12
WHEREAS, The 2017-2018 National Survey of Children's Health 13
(NSCH) found that more than 500,000 Ohio children reported one 14
or more adverse childhood experiences (such as divorce, death of 15
a parent, having a parent who served time in jail, experiencing 16
violence in the home or community, being a victim of violence, 17
living with a person with mental illness or a problem with drugs 18
H. C. R. No. 25 Page 2
As Introduced
or alcohol, or experiencing unfair treatment due to race or 19
ethnicity) and more than 400,000 Ohio children reported two or 20
more adverse childhood experiences; and 21
WHEREAS, The American Academy of Pediatrics describes 22
adverse childhood experiences as stressful or traumatic events 23
that occur during childhood and are strongly related to a wide 24
range of health problems; and 25
WHEREAS, Culture can provide a source of strength, unique 26
coping strategies, and specific resources to respond to trauma; 27
and 28
WHEREAS, Culture influences how an individual interprets 29
and assigns meaning to trauma, impacts how an individual conveys 30
stress through behavior, emotions, and thinking, and affects the 31
determination of health concerns and appropriate interventions 32
and treatments; and 33
WHEREAS, The NSCH found that the potential for childhood 34
trauma exists among all major racial and ethnic groups in the 35
United States, and some racial and ethnic minorities are at a 36
greater risk for specific traumas and adverse effects from 37
trauma; and 38
WHEREAS, The American Psychological Association recognizes 39
that racism is a contributing factor to childhood trauma for 40
children of African American, Native, and Hispanic/LatinX 41
descent; and 42
WHEREAS, The NCTSN acknowledges that poverty is a 43
contributing factor to childhood trauma; and 44
WHEREAS, Oppressive systems in the United States have been 45
perpetuating and maintaining a traumatized existence for African 46
Americans since slavery; and 47
WHEREAS, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 48
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As Introduced
Administration (SAMHSA) recognizes that a trauma-informed 49
approach is not a prescribed set of practices or procedures, but 50
instead reflects adherence to the following six key principles 51
that can be generalized across multiple settings: (1) safety; 52
(2) trustworthiness and transparency; (3) peer support; (4) 53
collaboration and mutuality; (5) empowerment, voice, and choice; 54
and (6) cultural, historical, and gender issues; and 55
WHEREAS, Law enforcement, the juvenile justice system, 56
substance use treatment providers, the education system, and 57
social service networks (including foster care, adoption, and 58
other child welfare services, disability services, and family 59
and community supports systems) should all be equipped with up 60
to date knowledge and training on trauma-informed and trauma- 61
responsive care; and 62
WHEREAS, Based on the sources described above, we 63
acknowledge that children experience long-term consequences from 64
trauma they receive through oppressive systems, and part of the 65
goal of this resolution is to recognize how those systems 66
perpetuate trauma within the African American community; now 67
therefore be it 68
RESOLVED, That we, the members of the 133rd General 69
Assembly of the State of Ohio, call upon the Governor to take 70
action to address childhood trauma and respectfully urge him to 71
declare a State of Emergency on Childhood Trauma to increase 72
public knowledge in identifying and treating the conditions 73
caused by post-traumatic stress disorders related to child 74
development, with an emphasis on the six key principles of a 75
trauma-informed approach and how laws, policies, and systems 76
have contributed to ongoing trauma within minority communities; 77
and be it further 78
RESOLVED, That the Clerk of the House of Representatives 79
transmit duly authenticated copies of this resolution to the 80
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As Introduced
Governor and the news media of Ohio. 81