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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 576
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WHEREAS, All children need love, guidance, and safety and |
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deserve to grow up in an environment free of violence and |
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physical harm; and |
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WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect are a serious and |
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widespread problem in the State of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2007 alone, the Texas Department of Family and |
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Protective Services received more than 240,000 reports of child |
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abuse and neglect, and 223 Texas children died as a result of |
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abuse or neglect; most of the victims are infants or preschool |
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children; and |
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WHEREAS, The direct costs of child abuse and neglect |
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include the costs of judicial, law enforcement, and health system |
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responses to child maltreatment; in Texas, the costs associated |
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with investigation, care, placement, and treatment of child |
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abuse and neglect cases approach $900 million per year; and |
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WHEREAS, The enormous costs of child abuse and neglect can |
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be reduced by well-funded and robust child abuse prevention and |
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early intervention programs that break the cycle of violence; and |
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WHEREAS, There are a number of effective programs that |
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prevent child abuse and neglect, including early childhood |
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education and health care, substance abuse treatment programs, |
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home visitation programs, and parenting programs; and |
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WHEREAS, Thousands of child protection workers, medical |
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and legal professionals, clergy members, social workers, school |
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teachers, and other adults devote themselves to preventing, |
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detecting, and addressing the effects of child abuse and neglect; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Thousands of Texans serve as foster parents each |
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year, opening their homes and hearts to children who have |
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suffered child abuse and neglect and protecting them from further |
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harm; and |
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WHEREAS, Thousands of children are adopted by loving |
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parents each year in Texas, providing them with a new start in |
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life after they have experienced maltreatment; and |
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WHEREAS, It is possible to fight child abuse and neglect |
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with community-based programs that reflect the diversity, |
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strengths, and resources of the many communities in this great |
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state, and it is a worthy goal for all citizens to seek to break |
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the cycle of child abuse and neglect in our country and to give |
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victimized children hope for the future; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
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Legislature, hereby recognize April as Child Abuse Prevention |
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Month and commend all Texans who work on behalf of the abused and |
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neglected children of our state; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
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recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month. |
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Uresti |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on April 7, 2009. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |