HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

276

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

H.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

 

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES TO SUPPORT PROJECT CUDDLE AND ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF ADVERTISING ITS HOTLINE.

 

 

 


     WHEREAS, Project Cuddle is recognized as a successful, safe, and legal alternative to abandonment of babies; and

 

     WHEREAS, Project Cuddle is the result of one woman's crusade to help prevent infants from being abandoned; and

 

     WHEREAS, Project Cuddle instituted a 24-hour toll-free crisis hotline: 1-88-TO-CUDDLE; and

 

     WHEREAS, when a crisis call is received, Project Cuddle institutes various means of helping the baby such as finding an attorney, a family wanting to rescue and adopt the baby, as well as an obstetrician, hospital and social counselor; and

 

     WHEREAS, Project Cuddle was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity in 1994; and

 

     WHEREAS, a volunteer Board of Directors oversees the organization, which operates on a day-to-day basis with the assistance of volunteers and a minimal-paid staff; and

 

     WHEREAS, statistics indicate that 57 babies are abandoned every day, and these are only the ones that are found; and

 

     WHEREAS, approximately 20,000 babies are abandoned every year; and

 

     WHEREAS, since its founding, Project Cuddle has successfully saved hundreds of babies from being abandoned; and


     WHEREAS, approximately 60 percent of the girls and women raise their babies with the help of Project Cuddle, which works with the parents of the mothers and finds them shelter; and

 

     WHEREAS, Project Cuddle is based in Orange County, California and has volunteers all over the United States and Canada that help publicize its toll-free number; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Legislature finds that it is a noble and appropriate alternative to abandonment to support Project Cuddle; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fourth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2007, that the Department of Human Services (DHS) is urged to support Project Cuddle and to assess the feasibility of advertising its toll-free number to provide an alternative to women, and friends and relatives of women, who are considering abandoning a baby; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that DHS is requested to report its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than 20 days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2008; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Human Services.

Report Title: 

Abandoned babies; Project Cuddle