LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor David A. Paterson to
proclaim April 2009 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, The citizens of New York State are committed to ensuring the
safety and well-being of our most precious resource, our children, and
to protecting them in every facet of their daily lives; each year the
month of April is designated as Child Abuse Prevention Month, whereby
individuals throughout our State and Nation come together to focus their
attention on the problem of child abuse and neglect, and to examine
possible solutions which communities statewide can together work to
achieve; and
WHEREAS, All children have the right to have their basic needs met;
prevention is the best way to keep children from harm; child abuse
prevention means strengthening families and prevention is the responsi-
bility of the individual, the family and the community; and
WHEREAS, Child maltreatment is the result of cycles of abuse, parental
mental health instability, substance abuse, lack of knowledge, domestic
violence, stress, poverty, unemployment, social isolation, and a lack of
parental and familial support; and
WHEREAS, The effects of child abuse, neglect and maltreatment can
immeasurably damage the physical, emotional and mental well-being of
children; in nearly all cases, the impact can last for a lifetime and
have profound effects on the lives of many others; and
WHEREAS, Protective factors against child maltreatment include nurtur-
ing and attachment, knowledge of parenting and of child and youth devel-
opment, parental resilience, social connections, and concrete support
for parents; and
WHEREAS, The most effective and successful child abuse prevention
programs are those which are community-wide initiatives, developed
through the collaborative work of government and community-based agen-
cies, law enforcement entities, and education, faith-based, and business
communities; and
WHEREAS, New York State, by providing support and services to enhance
protective factors and treat the cycle of abuse, is committed to the
prevention of child abuse and neglect in all of its forms; and
WHEREAS, It is the responsibility of all citizens throughout our great
State to report suspected acts of abuse, neglect and maltreatment of
children and to support the children and families within their communi-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Every member of each community should support efforts that
help promote a safe and nurturing environment in which families can best
raise their children; it is also vital that all people take an active
role in fighting child abuse by increasing their knowledge and develop-
ing greater awareness about the serious matter of child abuse and the
magnitude of its detrimental effects on our families and all of society;
it is fitting, therefore, that all New Yorkers join in supporting the
vital goals of Child Abuse Prevention Month every day of the year; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor David A. Paterson to proclaim April 2009 as Child
Abuse Prevention Month in the State of New York, and to urge citizens
across the State to increase their efforts to prevent child abuse and
neglect and thereby strengthen the communities in which we live; and be
it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable David A. Paterson, Governor of the State of New
York.