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Proclamation declaring April 2014 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in Allegheny County and recognizing A Child's Place at Mercy for providing abused children in this region with dedicated and caring services and support.
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WHEREAS, A Child's Place at Mercy, Pittsburgh Mercy Health System is the Allegheny County Child Advocacy Center, an accredited center with over 125 combined years of service to children; and
WHEREAS, child abuse is the 4th leading cause of death of children; and
WHEREAS, Allegheny County alone had over 1,700 reports of child abuse last year, A Child's Place at Mercy evaluates children suspected of having been abused and continues to train professionals on the diagnosis, treatment and investigation of these reports; and
WHEREAS, A Child's Place at Mercy along with other Allegheny County agencies continue the "Choose your caregiver" and "Choose your partner carefully" campaigns to educate mothers on the dangers of unsafe household members to children;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Allegheny County Council, on behalf of the citizens of Allegheny County, hereby commends A Child's Place at Mercy for providing abused children in this region with dedicated and caring services and support.
FURTHERMORE, this Council declares April "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in Allegheny County. April is a time to celebrate the important role that communities play in protecting children. Everyone's participation is critical. Focusing on ways to build and promote protection and prevention with children and families is the best thing our community can do.