2024 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 13
BY SENATOR FESI
A RESOLUTION
To designate Thursday, April 11, 2024, as Child Advocacy Center Day in Louisiana.
WHEREAS, Louisiana's Child Advocacy Centers (CACs) have made valuable
contributions to the state and have significantly improved the lives of children and families;
and
WHEREAS, April is recognized nationally as Child Abuse Prevention Month,
highlighting the importance of protecting children from all forms of abuse and neglect; and
WHEREAS, alarming statistics reveal that one in ten children will experience sexual
abuse before reaching age eighteen, emphasizing the critical need for resources and support
systems for victims; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana CACs provide essential services to over 7,000 children
annually across all sixty-four parishes of the state, offering assistance in cases involving
physical abuse, neglect, sexual abuse, human trafficking, and first-hand exposure to
domestic violence and homicide; and
WHEREAS, Louisiana CACs provide education and awareness efforts for the
prevention, identification, and reporting of child abuse, and in 2023 alone, CACs in
Louisiana reached over 58,000 professionals, children, and community members; and
WHEREAS, the purpose of Louisiana's CACs is to provide every child victim
referred to a CAC with a comfortable, child-friendly environment for forensic interviewing,
victim advocacy, mental health, and other services in order to reduce further trauma to the
child and promote healing; and
WHEREAS, the collaborative efforts of multidisciplinary teams within CACs are
essential in coordinating comprehensive responses to child abuse cases; those teams
typically include representatives of District Attorney offices, the Department of Children and
Family Services, various law enforcement agencies, medical and mental health providers,
and victim advocate groups; and
WHEREAS, the evidence-based practices employed by CACs have been proven to
enhance child well-being, improve outcomes for children and families, and result in
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significant cost savings to taxpayers; and
WHEREAS, the Louisiana Alliance of Children's Advocacy Centers is the state
chapter established to empower, collaborate, and advocate for Louisiana's CACs, offering
vital training, technical assistance, data collection, and advocacy; and
WHEREAS, with eleven centers who are currently full accredited members in good
standing with the National Children's Alliance, and three centers on the path to national
accreditation, Louisiana's CACs are a part of a network of over 900 centers across the nation
which serve over 350,000 children annually.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby designate Thursday, April 11, 2024, as Child Advocacy Center Day in
Louisiana, recognizing the vital role of Child Advocacy Centers in safeguarding the well-
being of children and families across the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
Louisiana Alliance of Children's Advocacy Centers in appreciation for their tireless efforts
in advocating for and supporting Child Advocacy Centers throughout Louisiana.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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