Bill Text: NJ SR111 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Designates April 2017 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in New Jersey.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-03-13 - Filed with Secretary of State [SR111 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-SR111-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
SYNOPSIS
Designates April 2017 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in New Jersey.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution designating April 2017 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in the State of New Jersey.
Whereas, The month of April is being observed by public officials and citizens across the nation as "National Child Abuse Prevention Month"; and
Whereas, The incidence of child abuse and neglect continue to be a serious concern in this State and throughout the nation because it affects not only children, but their families and community as well; and
Whereas, Survivors of child abuse and neglect are far more likely to suffer from depression, substance abuse, drop out of school, and recreate the abusive relationships they witnessed as children; and
Whereas, In 2013, there were 59,151 cases of suspected child abuse reported in the State of New Jersey, and 9,490 were substantiated; and of these children, approximately 86% were neglected, 14% were physically abused, 9% were sexually abused, and 18 children died as a result of the abuse or neglect; and
Whereas, Although the State of New Jersey has established various programs that identify and treat child abuse and neglect and provide prevention services to abused children and their families, there remains a need for governmental and community-based social services organizations to focus on providing services to prevent future incidences of child abuse and neglect; and
Whereas, New Jersey Children's Alliance is a Statewide non-profit organization that promotes and supports communities in raising public awareness about child abuse and neglect and provides a comprehensive response to survivors of child abuse and neglect and their families; and
Whereas, The Alliance also offers training and technical assistance to the State's child advocacy centers and other governmental and community-based social services organizations providing child abuse prevention service; and
Whereas, Child advocacy centers are child-friendly centers where a multidisciplinary team of law enforcement, child protective services, prosecutors, mental health and medical professionals, and victim witness and family advocates can provide a coordinated response to the investigation, treatment, prosecution, and prevention of child abuse and neglect; and
Whereas, Every year, the centers assist over 3,000 child abuse and neglect survivors and their families in obtaining judicial, medical, therapeutic, and victim advocacy services, and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement, prosecutors, and child protective services professionals when investigating child abuse and neglect; and
Whereas, Organizations like the New Jersey Children's Alliance and the State's child advocacy centers should be commended for ensuring the effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services to the survivors of child abuse and neglect in a child-friendly environment, raising public awareness about child abuse prevention, and improving the lives of the most vulnerable children of this State; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. The month of April 2017 is designated as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in the State of New Jersey, in recognition of organizations like New Jersey Children's Alliance and the State's child advocacy centers that ensure the effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services to the survivors of child abuse and neglect in a child-friendly environment, raise public awareness about child abuse prevention, and improve the lives of the most vulnerable children of this State.
2. The Governor is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the public officials and the citizens of New Jersey to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs.
3. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to New Jersey Children's Alliance and every child advocacy center in the State.
STATEMENT
This resolution designates April 2017 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in the State of New Jersey in recognition of organizations like New Jersey Children's Alliance and the State's child advocacy centers that ensure the effective, efficient, and consistent delivery of services to the survivors of child abuse and neglect in a child-friendly environment, raise public awareness about child abuse prevention, and improve the lives of the most vulnerable children of this State.
The committee amended the bill to change the date of the resolution from April 2016 to April 2017.
