California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly Concurrent ResolutionNo. 24


Introduced by Assembly Member Chu

February 13, 2015


Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 24—Relative to Child Abuse Prevention Month.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

ACR 24, as introduced, Chu. Child Abuse Prevention Month.

This measure would acknowledge the month of April 2015 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.

Fiscal committee: no.

P1    1WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious
2threats to our nation’s children; and

3WHEREAS, In 2013, according to the University of California
4at Berkeley, Center for Social Services Research, approximately
584,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse
6or neglect; and

7WHEREAS, In 2012, according to the State Department of
8Public Health, 85 children in California died as a result of child
9abuse and neglect; and

10WHEREAS, Children who have been abused or neglected have
11a higher risk of developing various health problems as adults,
12including alcoholism, depression, drug abuse, eating disorders,
13obesity, suicide, and certain chronic diseases; and

P2    1WHEREAS, California’s children deserve to grow up in a safe
2and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect; and

3WHEREAS, Statewide, child abuse and neglect cases
4disproportionately involve children of color; and

5WHEREAS, Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on
6the involvement of people throughout the community; and

7WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic
8and societal costs; and

9WHEREAS, Providing community-based prevention services
10to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect
11is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage
12that can result from child abuse and neglect; and

13WHEREAS, Providing community-based prevention services
14to those families can help avoid the costs of protective services,
15law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment
16of adults recovering from abuse as children; and

17WHEREAS, Victims of child abuse, whether the abuse is
18physical, sexual, or emotional, or any combination of these, should
19have access to a safe place to live, appropriate medical care, and
20counseling or mental health services; and

21WHEREAS, In recent years, Prevent Child Abuse America, the
22Child Abuse Prevention Center, and other groups have organized
23Blue Ribbon Campaigns to increase public awareness of child
24abuse and to promote ways to prevent child abuse; and

25WHEREAS, Each year, the President of the United States issues
26a proclamation announcing April as National Child Abuse
27Prevention Month; and

28WHEREAS, Pinwheels are displayed to increase the awareness
29of child abuse and to focus on the positive message of preventing
30child abuse and neglect by supporting families and strengthening
31communities during Child Abuse Prevention Month; now,
32therefore, be it

33Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
34thereof concurring,
That the Legislature does hereby acknowledge
35the month of April 2015 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and
36encourages the people of the State of California to work together
37to support youth-serving child abuse prevention activities in their
38communities and schools during that month and throughout the
39year; and be it further

P3    1Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
2of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.



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