Legislation Document

SPONSOR:	Sen. Richardson & Sen. Gay & Rep. Briggs King & Rep. Griffith
Sens. Buckson, Hansen, Hocker, Lawson, Lockman, Mantzavinos, Sokola, Townsend, Wilson; Reps. Baumbach, Bush, Chukwuocha, Hensley, Osienski, Ramone, Romer, Michael Smith, K. Williams, Yearick

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 25

RECOGNIZING APRIL 2023 AS "CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH" IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, an estimated 600,000 children are abused and neglected in the United States annually; and

WHEREAS, in 2021, Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies received a national estimate of 3.987 million referrals alleging the maltreatment of approximately 7.176 million children; and

WHEREAS, in 2021, a national estimate of 1,820 children died from abuse and neglect at a rate of 2.46 per 100,000 children in the population, an increase from 2020; and

WHEREAS, the youngest children are the most vulnerable to maltreatment, with 45.6 percent of child fatalities are younger than 1 year old; and

WHEREAS, in 2022, Delaware received 23,924 hotline, 23,391family and 533 institutional abuse reports; and

WHEREAS, in 2022, 34% of the 8,077 reports Delaware received met the criteria for an investigation or assessment; and

WHEREAS, the prevention of child abuse is a matter of concern to citizens, state agencies, and community organizations in Delaware; and

WHEREAS, collaborative partnerships among various groups can help make child abuse prevention programs successful; and

WHEREAS, all citizens of the State should encourage parents to raise their children in a safe, nurturing environment and support programs that prevent child abuse; and

WHEREAS, during the COVID-19 pandemic, most schools transitioned to virtual classrooms making it difficult for the largest group of child abuse and neglect reporters, education personnel, to observe suspected maltreatment and submit maltreatment allegations.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the month of April 2023 is designated as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in the State of Delaware.