Florida Senate - 2017                            (NP)    SR 1842
       
       
        
       By Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       
       36-03456-17                                           20171842__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution recognizing April 2017 as “Child Abuse
    3         Prevention Month” in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, Florida’s future depends on the health and well
    6  being of the more than four million children in our state, and
    7  each of these children deserves to grow up free from abuse and
    8  neglect, and
    9         WHEREAS, during the 2015-2016 fiscal year, more than 42,000
   10  children were verified as being victims of child abuse and
   11  neglect, and
   12         WHEREAS, child abuse and neglect can have devastating
   13  consequences for a child’s physical, emotional, and behavioral
   14  development, leading to long-term challenges for the child and
   15  great cost to society, and
   16         WHEREAS, communities throughout Florida can support the
   17  physical, social, emotional, educational, and spiritual
   18  development of children, and
   19         WHEREAS, elected officials, state agencies and service
   20  providers, schools, faith and community organizations, law
   21  enforcement agencies, and the business community must work
   22  together to implement effective child abuse prevention efforts,
   23  and
   24         WHEREAS, this month, Prevent Child Abuse Florida, the
   25  Governor’s Office of Adoption and Child Protection, the
   26  Department of Children and Families, and the Ounce of Prevention
   27  Fund of Florida are collaborating on the Pinwheels for
   28  Prevention campaign, a statewide initiative to raise awareness
   29  of healthy child development and positive parenting practices in
   30  order to enable all children to achieve their full potential,
   31  NOW, THEREFORE,
   32  
   33  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   34  
   35         That April 2017 is recognized as “Child Abuse Prevention
   36  Month” in Florida, and all Floridians are encouraged to identify
   37  opportunities and initiate action to make a positive difference
   38  in the lives of children.