HR0097 102ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0097 LRB102 11009 ECR 16341 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect is a major social problem in Illinois, with 34,561 indicted cases affecting children statewide in 2018; according to the Children's Bureau's Child Maltreatment 2017 Report, an estimated 1,720 children died as a result of abuse or neglect in the United States in 2017; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that more than 100,000 cases of abuse go unreported each year; the impact of abuse on children manifests itself in various ways; the affected children may experience a range of emotional, psychological, and physical trauma resulting from abuse or neglect; and

WHEREAS, There are various organizations and agencies devoted to combatting this concern; such groups seek to provide preventative solutions and possible exit strategies to at-risk youth and victimized children; and

WHEREAS, In 1982, Congress designated June 6-12 as National Child Abuse Prevention Week; the following year, President Ronald Reagan proclaimed April to be the first National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a tradition that continues to this day; and

WHEREAS, Illinois law requires that mandated reporters, including most professionals employed within education, healthcare, law enforcement, and social work sectors, report suspected child neglect or abuse; and

WHEREAS, Healthcare professionals and concerned private parties continue to educate parents and raise awareness of child abuse within the State; and

WHEREAS, Effective preventative measures concerning child abuse succeed because of partnerships created between the courts, social service agencies, schools, religious organizations, law enforcement agencies, businesses, and civilian communities; the establishment of an Illinois Child Abuse Prevention Month would cohesively promote such successful partnerships aiming to eradicate the social ill of child abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, National Child Abuse Prevention Month promotes the social and emotional well-being of children and families and thus serves to acknowledge the importance of community cooperation throughout the nation with respect to the prevention of child abuse and neglect; the institution of an Illinois Child Abuse Prevention Month would functionally reiterate such principles within Illinois and would reinforce Illinois' commitment to educating residents and helping prevent any more children from being subjected to child abuse and neglect; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare April 2021 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the State of Illinois.