Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 99 Part 1.djvu/55

 PUBLIC LAW 99-13—APR. 4, 1985

99 STAT. 33

Public Law 99-13 99th Congress Joint Resolution To designate the month of April 1985 as "National Child Abuse Prevention Month".

Apr 4 1985 ^ ' ' [H.J. Res. 121]

Whereas the incidence and prevalence of child abuse and neglect have reached alarming proportions in the United States; Whereas an estimated two million children become victims of child abuse in this Nation each year; Whereas an estimated five thousand of these children die as a result of such abuse each year; Whereas the Nation faces a continuing need to support innovative programs to prevent child abuse and assist parents and family members in which child abuse occurs; Whereas Congress has expressed its commitment to seeking and applying solutions to this problem by enacting the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974; 42 USC 5ioi Whereas many dedicated individuals and private organizations, "o*® including Parents Anonymous, the National Committee for the Prevention of Child Abuse, American Humane Association, and other members of the National Child Abuse Coalition, are working to counter the ravages of abuse and neglect to help child abusers break this destructive pattern of behavior; Whereas the average cost for a public welfare agency to serve a family through a child abuse program is twenty times greater than self-help programs administered by private organizations; Whereas organizations, such as. Parents Anonjmious and other members of the National Child Abuse Coalition are expediting efforts to prevent child abuse in the next generation through special programs for abused children; and Whereas it is appropriate to focus the attention of the Nation upon the problem of child abuse: Now, therefore, be it

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