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Agenda Item No. S(B) CITY OF EL CERil.ITO PROCLAMATION Apri/2012 is Child Abuse Prevention Month WHEREAS, every child is precious and deserves to grow up in a healthy, safe, nurturing environment free from the threats, dangers and harmful effects of child abuse and neglect; and WHEREAS, child abuse and neglect impacts our entire society and can cause traumatic emotional and physical harm which can lead to poor outcomes including, detrimental behaviors and mental and physical illness for children and adults; and WHEREAS, a strong family unit is the best deterrent to child abuse, effectively intervening in the lives of children threatened by abuse is a shared responsibility. Strengthening the bonds within families requires community members and leaders to partner with parents; and WHEREAS, effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among social services agencies, schools, faith communities, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community; and WHEREAS, working together is crucial to protect the well-being of our children by recognizing the signs of violence and creating safe, and strong environments that safeguard the promise of their futures; and WHEREAS, nationally it is estimated that more than 1,500 children die each year from child abuse or neglect and during periods of economic challenges, families feel more vulnerable, and as a result, child abuse and neglect increases drastically; and WHEREAS, research obtained from STAND! shows that for every $1 spent on child abuse and neglect prevention, $34 will not be spent on publicly funded crisis- oriented programming such as protective services, foster care, special education and counseling. NOW THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of El Cerrito hereby proclaims April 2012 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of El Cerrito and calls upon all residents, community agencies, faith groups, medical facilities and businesses to increase their participation in efforts to support safe and strong families, thereby preventing child abuse and strengthening the communities in which we live. Dated: April 3, 2012 William C. Jones, III, Mayor