Title
A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Designating the month of April 2009 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in Allegheny County.
Body
WHEREAS, each year more than 1 million children in the United States are documented as the victims of child abuse, and at least 1,500 children die as a result, with children under four years old accounting for 81% of the fatalities; and
WHEREAS, in 2007, 46 Pennsylvania children died as a result of abuse and neglect and there were 6,157 substantiated cases of abuse; and
WHEREAS, the damaging effects of child abuse include, but are not limited to, school failure, alcohol and drug abuse and physical and psychological difficulties; and
WHEREAS, child abuse crosses all racial, economic and geographic boundaries and has reached epidemic proportions across this nation and throughout this Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Pennsylvania General Assembly enacted the Newborn Protection Act, or Safe Haven Law, in 2002; and
WHEREAS, thirty five of the 46 Pennsylvania children who died in 2007 as a result of abuse and neglect were under the age of five years and 18 of the children were under the age of one year; and
WHEREAS, sixty percent of the perpetrators in 2007 had a parental relationship with the abused child; and
WHEREAS, child abuse can and must be prevented and awareness raised so that families learn they have access to community resources which offer support, information and guidance to help stop or prevent abusive behaviors or conditions; and
WHEREAS, thousands of Pennsylvanians in schools, social service agencies, churches and neighborhood groups throughout this Commonwealth are working hard to nurture and support the victims of child abuse and prevent future abuse; and
WHEREAS, in spite of the dedication and sacrifice of these individuals, much more still needs to be done to guarantee a childhood free of abuse and victimization to every child in this Commonwealth;
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. The Council of Allegheny County hereby designates the month of April 2009 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in Allegheny County, commends those persons who work to treat and prevent child abuse in Allegheny County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and urges all County residents to do their part in preventing the tragedy of child abuse.
Section 4. Severability. If any provision of this Resolution shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this Resolution which shall be in full force and effect.
Section 5. Repealer. Any Resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this Resolution is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this Resolution.