P1 1WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect continue to pose serious
2threats to our nation’s children; and
3WHEREAS, In 2010, according to the Center for Social Services
4Research at the University of California, Berkeley, approximately
589,000 children in California were found to be victims of abuse
6or neglect; and
7WHEREAS, In 2010, according to the United States Department
8of Health and Human Services, 120 children in California died as
9a result of child abuse 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
14WHEREAS, California’s children deserve to grow up in a safe
15and nurturing environment free from fear, abuse, and neglect; and
16WHEREAS, Prevention of child abuse and neglect depends on
17the involvement of people throughout the community; and
18WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect have long-term economic
19and societal costs; and
20WHEREAS, Providing community-based prevention services
21to families whose children may be at risk of child abuse or neglect
22is less costly than addressing the emotional and physical damage
23that can result from child abuse and neglect; and
P2 1WHEREAS, Providing community-based prevention services
2to those families can help avoid the costs of
protective services,
3law enforcement, the judicial system, foster care, and the treatment
4of adults recovering from abuse as children; and
5WHEREAS, Victims of child abuse, whether the abuse is
6physical, sexual, or emotional, or any combination of these, should
7have access to a safe place to live, appropriate medical care, and
8counseling or mental health services; and
9WHEREAS, In recent years, Prevent Child Abuse America, the
10Child Abuse Prevention Center, and other groups have organized
11Blue Ribbon Campaigns in order to increase public awareness of
12child abuse and to promote ways to prevent child abuse; and
13WHEREAS, Each year, the President of the United States issues
14a proclamation announcing April as National Child Abuse
15Prevention Month; and
16WHEREAS, Blue ribbons are displayed to increase the
17awareness of child abuse and to focus on the positive message of
18preventing child abuse and neglect by supporting families and
19strengthening communities during Child Abuse Prevention Month;
20now, therefore, be it
21Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the
22Assembly recognizes the month of April 2014 as Child Abuse
23Prevention Month to support youth-serving child abuse prevention
24activities in the communities and schools during the month and
25throughout the year; and be it further
26Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies
27of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
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