Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 34
CHAPTER 32
Relative to Child Abuse Prevention Month.
[
Filed with
Secretary of State
May 09, 2013.
]
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 34, Cooley.
Child Abuse Prevention Month.
This measure would acknowledge the month of April 2013 as Child Abuse Prevention Month, and encourage the people of the State of California to work together to support youth-serving child abuse prevention activities in their communities and schools.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
NO WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious threats to our nation’s children; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, according to the University of California at Berkeley, Center for Social Services Research, approximately 89,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse or neglect; and
WHEREAS, In 2010, according to the United States Department of Health and Human Services, 120 children in California died as a result of child abuse and neglect; and
WHEREAS, Children who have been abused or neglected have a higher risk of developing various health problems as adults, including alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders, obesity, suicide, and certain chronic diseases; and
WHEREAS, California’s children deserve to grow up in a safe and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect; and
WHEREAS, Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on the involvement of people throughout the community; and
WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic and societal costs; and
WHEREAS, Providing community-based prevention services to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage that can result from child abuse and neglect; and
WHEREAS, Providing community-based prevention services to those families can help avoid the costs of protective services, law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment of adults recovering from abuse as children; and
WHEREAS, Victims of child abuse, whether the abuse is physical, sexual, or emotional, or any combination of these, should have access to a safe place to live, appropriate medical care, and counseling or mental health services; and
WHEREAS, In recent years, Prevent Child Abuse America, the Child Abuse Prevention Center, and other groups have organized Blue Ribbon Campaigns in order to increase public awareness of child abuse and to promote ways to prevent child abuse; and
WHEREAS, Each year, the President of the United States issues a proclamation announcing April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month; and
WHEREAS, Blue ribbons are displayed to increase the awareness of child abuse and to focus on the positive message of preventing child abuse and neglect by supporting families and strengthening communities during Child Abuse Prevention Month; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature does hereby acknowledge the month of April 2013 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and encourages the people of the State of California to work together to support youth-serving child abuse prevention activities in their communities and schools during that month and throughout the year; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.