TITLE
Title
PROCLAMATION DECLARING APRIL 2024 AS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Commissioner Kay Cashion
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RESOLUTION
Resolution
WHEREAS, children’s healthy development and well-being are a priority for our County and children need a safe, stable, and nurturing families, schools, and communities; and
WHEREAS, childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, is a serious problem affecting many families and has long-term negative effects on children, families, and future generations; and
WHEREAS, together, we must work toward a community that upholds every person’s right to live free from abuse and commit to preventing abuse, supporting survivors, and holding offenders accountable; and
WHEREAS, it is only through partnership that we can nurture positive childhoods, create pathways to hope and healing for children and families to prevent future abuse; and
WHEREAS, in 2023 DHHS Children Services received over 5,800 reports of child abuse and neglect and the FJC supported 3,847 children; and
WHEREAS, Guilford County’s Family Justice Center (FJC) brings together a multitude of agencies that work collaboratively to provide a specialized, coordinated response to child abuse, which includes professionals from the Department of Health and Human Services, Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department, Guilford County Sheriff’s Office, Children’s Law Center of Central North Carolina, Cone Health, District Attorney’s Office, Elon Law, Family Service of the Piedmont, Kellin Foundation, Legal Aid, and the YMCA of Greensboro; and
WHEREAS, the FJC’s Camp HOPE, a specialty program designed for children impacted by trauma and abuse, provided overnight camp and year-round mentoring to 130 children, and had 2,700 hours of volunteer support, increasing children participation 382% since launching in 2017; and
WHEREAS, Guilford County is committed to maintaining and growing partnerships among citizens, human service agencies, schools, faith communities, health care providers, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community to find solutions, provide wraparound support, and prevent future abuse; and
WHEREAS the Guilford County Board of Commissioners supports the efforts of national, state, and local partners, and every citizen who actively engages in public and private efforts to prevent child abuse and help families thrive, and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Guilford County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim April as “Child Abuse Prevention Month,” joining advocates and communities across the country to urge all citizens to take an active role to work together to prevent child abuse.
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Proclaim April 2024 Child Abuse Prevention Month in Guilford County.
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