1Directing the Joint State Government Commission to identify
2existing evidence-based child abuse and neglect prevention
3programs in this Commonwealth and nationwide, evaluate the
4effectiveness and relative cost of these programs and
5identify opportunities to integrate child abuse and neglect
6prevention methods and approaches into Commonwealth programs
7and policy.

8WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that child abuse and
9neglect are persistent problems in this Commonwealth; and

10WHEREAS, The Task Force on Child Protection was created by
11the General Assembly to thoroughly review State laws and
12procedures governing child protection and the reporting of child
13abuse; and

14WHEREAS, The task force issued its report and recommendations
15on November 27, 2012; and

16WHEREAS, The task force recommended that programs to prevent
17evidence-based child abuse and neglect be encouraged and
18financially supported where feasible, and that the numerous

1models of successful prevention programs throughout this
2Commonwealth and nationwide be more fully considered to
3determine whether they are adaptable to diverse communities
4throughout this Commonwealth; therefore be it

5RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the Joint
6State Government Commission to identify existing successful
7programs to prevent evidence-based child abuse and neglect that
8operate in this Commonwealth and nationwide; and be it further

9RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission evaluate
10the effectiveness and relative cost of these programs; and be it
11further

12RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission identify
13opportunities to integrate methods and approaches into
14Commonwealth programs to prevent child abuse and neglect and
15into the policy of Commonwealth agencies where feasible; and be
16it further

17RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission, in
18consultation with the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
19as necessary, identify all existing Federal, State and county
20funding streams currently provided to prevent child abuse and
21neglect and provide recommendations on how to create incentives
22for the adoption and implementation of programs to prevent
23evidence-based child abuse and neglect; and be it further

24RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission prepare
25a report of its findings and transmit copies of the report to
26the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Children and
27Youth Committee and the chairperson and minority chairperson of
28the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives no later
29than 18 months after the adoption of this resolution.