LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION, memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim April 17-23, 2011, as Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week in
the State of New York

WHEREAS, Statistics compiled by the federal government show that 702,000
children were victims of abuse and neglect in the United States in 2009,
including 77,620 children in New York State; and
WHEREAS, Acts of abuse and neglect by those entrusted with the care of
children cause unspeakable pain and suffering to our most vulnerable
citizens; and
WHEREAS, On an average day in the United States, four children who are
victims of abuse and neglect die; and
WHEREAS, Children younger than one year of age accounted for 46
percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2009, and children
younger than four years-old accounted for approximately 80 percent of
such fatalities in 2009; and
WHEREAS, The most recent statistics available from the New York State
Department of Health also demonstrate that homicide was a leading cause
of death due to injury for children under the age of one; and
WHEREAS, The leading cause of death of abused children is abusive head
trauma, including the trauma known as Shaken Baby Syndrome; and
WHEREAS, On average 1,200 to 1,400 children in the United States are
diagnosed every year with Abusive Head Trauma, including Shaken Baby
Syndrome, and medical experts believe thousands more cases are likely
misdiagnosed or undetected; and
WHEREAS, Shaken Baby Syndrome and other inflicted head trauma occurs
when a caregiver loses control and shakes a baby or young child, most
frequently less than one year of age but in some cases as old as five
years of age, resulting in loss of vision, brain damage, paralysis,
seizures, or death; and
WHEREAS, Shaken Baby Syndrome often causes permanent, irreparable
brain damage or death to an infant, and may result in more than a
million dollars in medical and rehabilitation costs for the care of a
single disabled child during the first few years of life; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated the taxpayers of the State of New York may,
through the State Medicaid program, pay as much as 41% of the medical
and rehabilitation costs that result from shaking injuries; and
WHEREAS, The national cost of child abuse is estimated by Prevention
Child Abuse America as more than $92 billion a year, and the cost of
child abuse in New York State is estimated to exceed $3 billion a year;
and
WHEREAS, It appears that substantial medical evidence indicates even
mild trauma to the brain caused by Shaken Baby Syndrome is likely to
cause learning disabilities in children and substantially increase the
risk of substance abuse; and
WHEREAS, The most effective way to end Shaken Baby Syndrome is by
educating parents and caregivers about the danger of shaking children
and providing the skills needed to cope with frustration and anger, and
it is clear the minimal costs of educational and preventive programs may
avert enormous medical and disability costs and untold grief for many
families; and
WHEREAS, Awareness and prevention programs, such as the nationally
recognized Upstate New York Shaken Baby Syndrome Prevention Project
developed by Dr. Mark Dias with the support of the New York State Chil-
dren and Families Trust Fund, have been shown to raise awareness and
provide critically important information about Shaken Baby Syndrome to
parents, caregivers, daycare workers, child protection employees, law

enforcement personnel, health care professionals, and legal represen-
tatives; and
WHEREAS, These prevention efforts are supported by national groups
such as the Shaken Baby Coalition and the National Center for Shaken
Baby Syndrome, and New York State groups such as the Hudson Valley SBS
Prevention Initiative, the Upstate New York SBS Prevention Project, The
SKIPPER Initiative, and the Cynthia Gibbs Foundation, whose mission is
to educate new parents and caregivers, increase awareness among the
general public and professionals, and encourage increased support for
victims and their families in the health care and criminal justice
systems; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature enacted legislation in 2001
requiring hospitals to include information about Shaken Baby Syndrome in
the maternity information pamphlet provided to all persons registering
for maternity services; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature enacted legislation in 2003
requiring all new child care providers to receive education about the
causes, consequences and prevention of Shaken Baby Syndrome before they
are licensed to care for children; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature enacted legislation in 2004
requiring all hospitals and birthing centers offer new parents the
opportunity to watch a video about the causes and consequences of Shaken
Baby Syndrome and ways it can be prevented so they can help protect
their child from shaking injuries; and
WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature enacted legislation in 2006
requiring the Health Department coordinate a statewide prevention
campaign that educates the public about the causes and consequences of
Shaken Baby Syndrome and how it can be prevented, and that the Education
Department provide a curriculum on Shaken Baby Syndrome to schools so
students, who not only may be parents some day, but who may now be baby-
sitting for young children, are educated about the danger of shaking
children; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York Legislature wishes to commend those
advocates, organizations and agencies of State, county and local govern-
ments which work tirelessly throughout the year to educate parents and
caregivers about the causes, consequences and prevention of Shaken Baby
Syndrome and other inflicted injuries; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 17-23, 2011, as
Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week in the State of New York; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.