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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 709
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WHEREAS, Children are our most precious resource, and they |
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deserve to grow up in an environment free of abuse and neglect; no |
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child should have to endure abuse, especially at the hands of an |
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adult; unfortunately, children are far too often abused and |
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neglected by the very adults who should be protecting and caring |
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for them; and |
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WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect is a complex and ongoing |
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problem in our society, and every year the state confirms more |
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victims; the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, |
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which administers the state's Child Protective Services program, |
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received more than 290,000 reports of child abuse and neglect in |
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2010; that year, 227 Texas children died because of abuse or |
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neglect at the hands of their parents or guardians, and 66,897 |
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children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect; on any given |
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day, there are more than 17,000 Texas children and teenagers in |
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foster care; and |
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WHEREAS, Adults who are attentive to and aware of |
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children's behaviors are in the best position to safeguard their |
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well-being; the majority of Texas child abuse cases involve |
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neglectful supervision, which is the placing of a child in or the |
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failure to remove a child from a situation that a reasonable |
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person would realize requires judgment or actions beyond the |
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child's level of maturity, physical condition, or mental |
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abilities and that results in bodily injury or substantial risk |
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of immediate harm to the child; and |
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WHEREAS, No single entity by itself can prevent child abuse |
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from happening; child abuse and neglect can be reduced by making |
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sure that all families have the support they need and deserve in |
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order to be able to raise their children in a healthy |
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environment; communities must make every effort to promote |
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programs that benefit children and their families; cities and |
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towns across Texas need to work to provide the support families |
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need to stay together and raise children and youth to be happy, |
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secure, and stable adults; effective child abuse prevention |
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programs succeed because of partnerships among agencies, |
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schools, religious organizations, law enforcement agencies, and |
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the business community; and |
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WHEREAS, Everyone in the community should accept the |
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responsibility of keeping children safe from abuse and neglect; |
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parents, friends, neighbors, and other concerned Texans should |
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report suspected abuse or neglect to available hotlines or by |
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contacting local law enforcement; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the 1980s, April has traditionally been |
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designated as the month to recognize child abuse prevention; many |
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people wear or display blue ribbons during April in memory of |
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those who have died as a result of child abuse; however, we must |
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be vigilant against child abuse not only during April but |
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throughout the year; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd |
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Legislature, hereby proclaim April of 2011 to be Child Abuse |
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Prevention Month in Texas and urge all citizens to work together |
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to help reduce child abuse and neglect; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared in |
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honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month. |
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Nelson, 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 5, 2011. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |