Delaware-2023-SCR144-Draft

SPONSOR:	Sen. Richardson & Sen. Gay & Rep. Dorsey Walker & Rep. Griffith & Rep. Jones Giltner
Sens. Brown, Buckson, Hansen, Hocker, Hoffner, Huxtable, Lawson, Lockman, Mantzavinos, S. McBride, Paradee, Pettyjohn, Pinkney, Poore, Sokola, Sturgeon, Townsend, Walsh, Wilson; Reps. Bolden, Bush, Carson, Collins, Cooke, Gray, Heffernan, Hilovsky, K. Johnson, Morrison, Osienski, Parker Selby, Romer, Michael Smith, K. Williams, Yearick

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 144

RECOGNIZING APRIL 2024 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 2022, Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies received a national estimate of 3.987 million referrals alleging the maltreatment of approximately 7.7 million children; and

WHEREAS, in 2022, a national estimate of 1,990 children died from abuse and neglect at a rate of 2.73 per 100,000 children in the population, an increase from 2021; 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 2023, Delaware received 25,188 hotline, 24,483 family and 705 institutional abuse reports; and

WHEREAS, in 2023, 29% of the 7408 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.

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 2024 is designated as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in the State of Delaware.