1Designating the month of April 2014 as "Child Abuse Prevention
2Month" in Pennsylvania.

3WHEREAS, Children bring happiness into our lives and hope to
4our future; and

5WHEREAS, Children are our greatest joy and our most important
6responsibility; and

7WHEREAS, It is our responsibility as parents, friends,
8neighbors, citizens and lawmakers to nurture and protect
9children, providing an atmosphere of love and respect in which
10they are able to grow into healthy, well-adjusted and productive
11adults; and

12WHEREAS, We, as a legislative body, have an ongoing

1commitment to protect the rights and needs of children; and

2WHEREAS, Child abuse crosses all racial, economic and
3geographic boundaries and has reached epidemic proportions
4across this nation and throughout this Commonwealth; and

5WHEREAS, There were 23,181 cases of possible child abuse or
6maltreatment referred for investigation in this Commonwealth in
72006; and

8WHEREAS, There were 4,152 substantiated cases of child abuse
9and neglect in this Commonwealth in 2006; and

10WHEREAS, Thousands of Pennsylvanians in schools, social
11service agencies, churches and neighborhood groups throughout
12this Commonwealth are working hard to nurture and support the
13victims of child abuse and prevent future abuse; and

14WHEREAS, In spite of the dedication and sacrifice of these
15individuals, much more still needs to be done to guarantee a
16childhood free of abuse and victimization to every child in this
17Commonwealth; and

18WHEREAS, As our knowledge about the prevention and treatment
19of child abuse grows, we must provide support, information and
20guidance to families in which child abuse may happen; therefore
21be it

22RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
23month of April 2014 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in
24Pennsylvania; and be it further

25RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives continue to do
26its part in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for
27all children in this Commonwealth so that they might grow up to
28be healthy and productive citizens; and be it further

29RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the many
30individuals and community groups and organizations who work

1daily to treat and prevent child abuse in this Commonwealth and
2urge all Pennsylvanians to do their part in preventing the
3tragedy of child abuse.