THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

SENATE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY ORIE, WARD, WASHINGTON, MENSCH, VANCE, KITCHEN, ALLOWAY, ARGALL, BAKER, BREWSTER, BROWNE, COSTA, DINNIMAN, EARLL, ERICKSON, FERLO, FOLMER, FONTANA, FARNESE, GREENLEAF, KASUNIC, PILEGGI, PIPPY, RAFFERTY, ROBBINS, SOLOBAY, TARTAGLIONE, TOMLINSON, VOGEL, WAUGH, D. WHITE, WOZNIAK, YAW AND YUDICHAK, APRIL 5, 2011

INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED, APRIL 5, 2011  

A RESOLUTION

Designating the month of April 2011 as "Child Abuse Prevention

Month" in Pennsylvania.

WHEREAS, Each year, more than one million children in the

United States are documented as the victims of child abuse, and

at least 1,500 children die as a result, with children under

four years of age accounting for 81% of the fatalities; and

WHEREAS, In 2009, 43 Pennsylvania children died as a result

of abuse and neglect, and there were 3,943 substantiated cases

of abuse; and

WHEREAS, Seventeen of the 43 Pennsylvania children who died

in 2009 as a result of abuse and neglect were under five years

of age and 19 of the children were under one year of age; and

WHEREAS, More than half of the perpetrators in 2009 were

relatives or household members; and

WHEREAS, In 2009 through 2010, the Pennsylvania Coalition

Against Rape network of 51 rape crisis centers provided services

to more than 11,000 child victims of sexual violence and have

spent more than 59,000 hours in counseling and medical and court

accompaniment for these victims; and

WHEREAS, The damaging effects of child abuse include, but are

not limited to, school failure, alcohol and drug abuse and

physical and psychological difficulties; and

WHEREAS, Child abuse crosses all racial, economic and

geographic boundaries and has reached epidemic proportions

across this nation and throughout this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Child abuse can and must be prevented and awareness

raised so that families learn they have access to community

resources which offer support, information and guidance to help

stop or prevent abusive behaviors or conditions; and

WHEREAS, Thousands of Pennsylvanians in schools, social

service agencies, churches and neighborhood groups throughout

this Commonwealth are working hard to nurture and support the

victims of child abuse and prevent future abuse; and

WHEREAS, The General Assembly enacted the Newborn Protection

Act, or Safe Haven Law, in 2002; and

WHEREAS, In 2003, an amendment to the Constitution of

Pennsylvania was approved by the electorate permitting child

victims and child material witnesses with the option of

testifying electronically; and

WHEREAS, In 2006, the General Assembly enacted a

comprehensive child abuse reform package (Act 179), including

updating the Child Protective Services Law and the lengthening

of the criminal statute of limitations for sexual offenses

against children; and

WHEREAS, In spite of these efforts, much more still needs to

be done to guarantee a childhood free of abuse and victimization

to every child in this Commonwealth; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the month of April 2011

as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in Pennsylvania; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the Senate commend those persons who work to

treat and prevent child abuse in Pennsylvania and urge all

Pennsylvanians to do their part in preventing the tragedy of

child abuse.