Bill Text: NY K00164 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2021, as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the State of New York

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Passed) 2021-04-20 - adopted [K00164 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-K00164-Introduced.html

---

Assembly Resolution No. 164

BY: M. of A. Lunsford

        MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
        April  2021,  as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the
        State of New York

  WHEREAS, There is no test of society more important than that of how
it treats its children, its most precious resource; and

  WHEREAS, The children of today  are  the  citizens  and  leaders  of
tomorrow;  their  health,  well-being,  and development are of paramount
importance to the people of the State of New York and, as  such,  it  is
the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that  every  child  merits  the
encouragement, protection, and support of all; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and fully  in  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  it  is the sense of this Legislative Body to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim April  2021,  as  Child
Abuse Prevention Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month; and

  WHEREAS,  Child  Abuse Prevention Month is a time to acknowledge the
importance of families and communities working together to prevent child
abuse and neglect, and to promote the social and emotional well-being of
children and families; and

  WHEREAS,  During  the  month  of  April  and  throughout  the  year,
communities  are  encouraged to share child abuse and neglect prevention
awareness strategies and activities and promote  prevention  across  the
country; and

  WHEREAS,  Over  65,000  children  in  New  York  State are abused or
neglected each year, enough to fill Madison Square Garden  three  times;
this abuse is preventable if we address its root causes; and

  WHEREAS,  These  root  causes  are  directly  related  to  families'
internal and external strength and include: inability to access adequate
employment and housing, affordable  child  care,  family  planning,  and
accurate  information  about  parenting;  substance  misuse;  and  other
community-level supports; and

  WHEREAS, Children's exposure to  the  unnecessary  risk  of  sexual,
physical,  and  emotional abuse and neglect can be addressed at a state,
community, and neighborhood level; and

  WHEREAS, We must also focus on  strengthening  the  Five  Protective
Factors:    parental resilience; social connections; concrete support in
time of need; knowledge of parenting and child development;  and  social
and emotional competencies of children; and

  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  we  can  make  a  difference in the lives of
children if we invest early and  provide  communities  the  support  and
information they need; and

  WHEREAS, By calling attention to the serious and significant problem
of  child  abuse,  the  observation  of  Child  Abuse  Prevention  Month
exemplifies a worthy commitment to  the  children  of  New  York  State,
encourages  improvement  in  the  quality  and availability of pertinent
programs,  laws  and  services,  and provides an opportunity to increase
awareness about all aspects of this important matter; and

  WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater  awareness  of  this
serious  issue, and more must be done to increase activity at the local,
State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
memorialize  Governor  Andrew  M. Cuomo to proclaim April 2021, as Child
Abuse Prevention Month in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted  to  The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.