PRINTER'S NO. 899
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
163
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, BISHOP, DiGIROLAMO, DEASY, D. COSTA,
RAVENSTAHL, KIM, V. BROWN, YOUNGBLOOD, MILLARD, BAKER,
HENNESSEY, SAMUELSON, MACKENZIE, ACOSTA, MURT, STEPHENS,
DUSH, SONNEY, PICKETT, BOBACK, KIRKLAND, FARINA, McNEILL,
COHEN, BENNINGHOFF, KINSEY, CALTAGIRONE, DRISCOLL, FRANKEL,
BROWNLEE, FREEMAN, WHEELAND, SCHLOSSBERG, LONGIETTI,
C. PARKER, CORBIN, DONATUCCI, THOMAS, M. K. KELLER, MARSICO,
BURNS, HARHAI, MAJOR, McCARTER, SCHLEGEL CULVER, PAYNE,
GOODMAN, ROSS, KAUFFMAN, WATSON, SCHWEYER, EVERETT AND
GIBBONS, MARCH 10, 2015
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 10, 2015
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2015 as "Child Abuse Prevention
Month" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Children bring happiness into our lives and hope to
our futures; and
WHEREAS, Children are our greatest joy and our most important
responsibility; and
WHEREAS, It is our responsibility as parents, friends,
neighbors, citizens and lawmakers to nurture and protect
children, providing an atmosphere of love and respect in which
they are able to grow into healthy, well-adjusted and productive
adults; and
WHEREAS, The House of Representatives, as a legislative body,
has an ongoing commitment to protect the rights and needs of
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children; 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, Nearly 68,000 child abuse clearance applications
were received by the Department of Human Services in the month
of January 2015; and
WHEREAS, More than 16,700 referrals were entered into the
Child Welfare Information System, stemming from reports of child
abuse and neglect, need for general protective services, need
for law enforcement response or other complaints to be
investigated; and
WHEREAS, There were 3,425 substantiated cases of child abuse
in this Commonwealth in 2013, with 38 children dying as a result
of abuse and neglect; and
WHEREAS, Nearly three in five child abuse perpetrators in
2013 have a parental relationship with the child; and
WHEREAS, In 2013, 79% of substantiated reports were made by
mandated reporters; and
WHEREAS, Pennsylvania received a record number of reports of
suspected child abuse in 2013, equivalent to a 10% increase from
2011; and
WHEREAS, One out of every 1,000 Pennsylvania children were
found to be victims of child abuse in 2013; 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, In spite of the dedication and sacrifice of these
individuals, much more still needs to be done to guarantee a
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childhood free of abuse and victimization to every child in this
Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, As our knowledge about the prevention and treatment
of child abuse grows, we must provide support, information and
guidance to families in which signs of child abuse exist;
therefore be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the
month of April 2015 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in
Pennsylvania; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives continue to do
its part in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for
all children in this Commonwealth so that they have the
opportunity to grow up to be healthy and productive citizens;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives commend the many
individuals and community groups and organizations who work
daily to treat and prevent child abuse in this Commonwealth and
urge all Pennsylvanians to do their part in preventing the
tragedy of child abuse.
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