86R23928 CJM-D
 
  By: Parker H.R. No. 1144
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, Children are essential to the continued prosperity
  and vitality of the Lone Star State, and the observance of National
  Child Abuse Prevention Month in April 2019 serves as an opportunity
  to focus public attention on the importance of protecting the most
  vulnerable members of our society; and
         WHEREAS, More than 66,000 cases of child abuse and neglect
  were confirmed in Texas in 2018, and 20,681 children were removed
  from their homes as a result of this treatment; tragically, 211
  children lost their lives due to abuse and neglect last year, and
  many of these victims were three years old or younger; and
         WHEREAS, The short-term and long-term costs of child abuse
  are substantial; in 2018, the cost to address child maltreatment in
  Texas totaled more than $55 billion; these expenses included
  medical treatment, foster care, law enforcement, mental health
  care, and special education, as well as the financial toll caused by
  juvenile delinquency and lost productivity; and
         WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect also carry enormous
  emotional and societal costs, as many victims suffer from mental
  illness, substance abuse, developmental delays, teen pregnancy,
  academic underachievement, criminal behavior, unemployment,
  poverty, and chronic disease; and
         WHEREAS, Every child deserves to grow up in a secure, stable,
  and nurturing home, and it is the responsibility of all Texans to
  help ensure the safety and well-being of children in the Lone Star
  State; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
  Legislature hereby recognize April 2019 as National Child Abuse
  Prevention Month in Texas and encourage all citizens to work
  together to protect the welfare of children throughout the state;
  and, be it further
         RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
  prepared for TexProtects as an expression of high regard by the
  Texas House of Representatives.