PRINTER'S NO. 2993
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
753
Session of
2015
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, NEUMAN, DiGIROLAMO, DEASY, TOOHIL,
YOUNGBLOOD, RAVENSTAHL, DeLUCA, BOBACK, ROZZI, WHEELAND,
CORBIN, FREEMAN, KIRKLAND, BURNS, BAKER, HENNESSEY, COHEN,
THOMAS, PASHINSKI, MACKENZIE, KOTIK, V. BROWN, HARHART,
TAYLOR, STAATS, DONATUCCI, KILLION, VEREB, BENNINGHOFF,
ROTHMAN, SACCONE, CALTAGIRONE, BIZZARRO, LONGIETTI, McNEILL,
KIM, DRISCOLL, WARD, PICKETT, DUSH, SONNEY, KAUFFMAN,
D. COSTA, ROSS, MILLARD, O'BRIEN, SCHREIBER, MURT,
SCHLOSSBERG, MUSTIO, SNYDER, WATSON, MARSICO, TOEPEL,
GILLESPIE, ENGLISH, O'NEILL, MARSHALL, PAYNE, NEILSON,
KINSEY, BULLOCK, DAY, HARHAI, R. BROWN, GOODMAN, GIBBONS,
MAHONEY, EVERETT AND REGAN, MARCH 18, 2016
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35,
MARCH 18, 2016
A RESOLUTION
Designating the month of April 2016 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,
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has an ongoing commitment to protect the rights and needs of
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 1.5 million child abuse certification
applications were received by the Department of Human Services
in 2015; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, more than 29,273 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 3,340 substantiated cases, or 11.4% of
all cases, of child abuse in this Commonwealth in 2014, with 30
children dying as a result of abuse and neglect and 66 near
fatalities substantiated; and
WHEREAS, Sixty-one percent of child abuse perpetrators in
2014 have a parental relationship with the child; and
WHEREAS, In 2014, 76% of substantiated reports were made by
mandated reporters; and
WHEREAS, Out of every 1,000 Pennsylvania children, 1.2
children were found to be victims of child abuse in 2014; 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
childhood free of abuse and victimization to every child in this
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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 2016 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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