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Health and Human Services Agency, on behalf of the El Dorado County Child Abuse Prevention Council, recommending the Board:
1) Adopt a Proclamation recognizing April 2018 as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in El Dorado County; and
2) Receive and file a presentation by the Child Abuse Prevention Council. (Est. Time: 10 Min.)
FUNDING: N/A
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DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION:
Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), on behalf of the El Dorado County Child Abuse Prevention Council, is recommending that, in recognition of the precious nature of the Children of our community and the need to prevent Child abuse from continuing, so the Children may grow up to reach their best potential, the Board proclaim the month of April 2018 as “Child Abuse Prevention Month” in El Dorado County.
By issuing this proclamation, the Board formally recognizes the need to prevent Child Abuse in our community. We must guard our children and join with citizens in our communities who are working to eliminate child abuse. We should also be engaging the public in efforts to strengthen and support families and enhance parenting skills.
For over 20 years, the El Dorado Child Abuse Prevention Council has served the County of El Dorado.
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND:
Increasing public awareness of the need to ensure the safety and welfare of children led to the passage of the first Federal child protection legislation, the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA), in 1974. While CAPTA has been amended many times over the years, most recently by the Keeping Children and Families Safe Act of 2003, the purpose of the original legislation remains intact. Today, the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the Federal agency charged with supporting States, Tribes, and communities in providing programs and services to protect children and strengthen families.
In 1982 the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives resolved that the week of June 6-12, 1982, should be designated as the first National Child Abuse Prevention Week. They asked the President to issue a proclamation calling upon Government agencies and the public to observe the week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. The following year, April was proclaimed the first National Child Abuse Prevention Month. In Title II of the CAPTA amendments of 1996, the Children's Bureau was charged with identifying a lead agency in each State for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (CBCAP) grants. CBCAP grantees are required to report annually on their Child Abuse Prevention Month activities.
In 2004, there was emerging consensus among national child abuse prevention organizations and related Federal agencies that building public will for child abuse prevention required engaging the public in efforts to strengthen and support families and enhance parenting skills. Building on this national momentum, OCAN shifted the focus of its child abuse prevention resources to incorporate a family strengthening message promoting parenting and community support. Today, the Child Abuse Prevention Initiative is an opportunity for communities across the country to keep children safe, provide the support families need to stay together, and raise children and youth to be happy, secure, and stable adults.
As the lead agency tasked with raising awareness of child abuse and neglect in California, the Office of Child Abuse Prevention (OCAP) encourages all California counties to participate in a statewide flag-raising of the Children’s Memorial Flag on Friday, April 27, 2018. Statewide participation in the raising of the Children’s Memorial Flag will provide counties with an avenue to increase awareness of child abuse and neglect through a unified message and facilitate broader community involvement in child abuse prevention. In addition to a statewide raising of the Children’s Memorial Flag, the OCAP also encourages counties to observe a moment of silence and reflection to honor the Californian children who have died from violence within the year. The OCAP envisions statewide participation in this event to commence at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 27, 2018.
Locally, the Children’s Memorial Flag will be raised at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 27, 2018 in front of the Health and Human Services Agency. Pinwheels will be placed on the lawn in honor of the memory of those who have lost their lives to child abuse.
ALTERNATIVES:
N/A
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board approve this item.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with this Agenda item.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
1) Clerk of the Board to obtain signature of Chair on two (2) original Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamations.