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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 22, 2021 11:45 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Michele Brooks and Sen. Judy Ward |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Resolution Designating April 2021 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in PA |
| We will be introducing a Resolution designating April 2021 as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in Pennsylvania. Child Abuse Prevention Month is an annual observance since 1983 dedicated to raising awareness and preventing child abuse. In 2017, the most recent year for which statistics were available, 4,693 cases of child abuse were substantiated in the Commonwealth, with 40 children dying as a direct result of abuse and neglect, and 88 children almost losing their lives, according to the Family Support Alliance. These numbers reflect the suffering of thousands of children in the Commonwealth who live in fear and often suffer in silence. Child abuse crosses all racial, economic and geographic boundaries, and can lead to school failure, alcohol and drug abuse, physical and psychological challenges, and even lifelong disabilities. The heroin and opioid epidemic has exacerbated the scope and severity of the problem. By enhancing the public’s awareness of child abuse, and preventing and stopping abusive behaviors and environments, we are committed to breaking the vicious cycle of abuse and creating a safe, nurturing, loving home for every child in Pennsylvania. Please join us in honoring those advocates, agencies, churches, and parents who are striving to guarantee children a peaceful upbringing, free of violence and victimization, and in raising understanding and encouraging action that will ultimately protect today’s children and generations to come. Thank you for joining us in support of this Resolution and these efforts. |
Introduced as SR87