2019 -- H 5961

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LC002375

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

COMMEMORATING APRIL, 2019, AS "CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH" IN THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Roberts, Chippendale, Nardone, Quattrocchi, and Filippi

     Date Introduced: April 04, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Anyone who does anything to help a child in need is a hero; and

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     WHEREAS, Annually, the month of April is designated as National Child Abuse

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Prevention Month in order to "recognize the importance of families and communities working

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together to prevent child abuse and neglect and promotes the social and emotional well-being of

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children and families"; and

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     WHEREAS, Child abuse includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Child neglect is

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defined as emotional, educational, physical, and medical neglect, as well as a failure to provide

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for basic needs; and

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     WHEREAS, Children are the most vulnerable among us and everything that can be done

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must be done to ensure that they are treated with dignity and respect, and have the opportunity to

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pursue their dreams in secure and healthy environments; and

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     WHEREAS, Every child deserves to be loved, nurtured, and safe. Parents, family

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members, teachers, and other caregivers profoundly shape children's lives and it is essential that

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they be the child's first line of defense; and

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     WHEREAS, According to RI KIDS COUNT, in 2017 in Rhode Island, there were 2,404

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indicated investigations of child abuse and neglect involving 3,357 children; and

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     WHEREAS, About 52 percent of the victims of child abuse and neglect in 2017 were

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young children under age six and 34 percent were ages three and younger; and

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     WHEREAS, In the words of author and survivor Dave Pelzer, "Childhood should be

 

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carefree, playing in the sun; not living a nightmare in the darkness of the soul"; now, therefore be

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it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby commemorates April, 2019, as "Child Abuse Prevention Month"

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and urges all Rhode Islanders to support efforts that promote children's psychological, physical,

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and emotional development; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Gina Raimondo, Governor of the

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State of Rhode Island, and the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and

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Families.

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LC002375

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