By: Castro H.R. No. 1340
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, All children need love, guidance, and safety and
deserve to grow up in an environment free of violence and physical
harm; and
WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect are a serious and widespread
problem in the State of Texas; and
WHEREAS, In 2007 alone, the Texas Department of Family and
Protective Services received more than 240,000 reports of child
abuse and neglect, and 223 Texas children died as a result of abuse
or neglect; most of the victims were infants or preschool children;
and
WHEREAS, The direct costs of child abuse and neglect include
the costs of judicial, law enforcement, and health system responses
to child maltreatment; in Texas, the costs associated with
investigation, care, placement, and treatment of child abuse and
neglect cases approach $900 million per year; and
WHEREAS, The enormous costs of child abuse and neglect can be
reduced by well-funded and robust child abuse prevention and early
intervention programs that break the cycle of violence; and
WHEREAS, There are a number of effective programs that
prevent child abuse and neglect, including early childhood
education and health care, substance abuse treatment programs, home
visitation programs, and parenting programs; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of child protection workers, medical and
legal professionals, clergy members, social workers, school
teachers, and other adults devote themselves to preventing,
detecting, and addressing the effects of child abuse and neglect;
and
WHEREAS, Thousands of Texans serve as foster parents each
year, opening their homes and hearts to children who have suffered
abuse and neglect and protecting them from further harm; and
WHEREAS, Thousands of children are adopted by loving parents
each year in Texas, providing them with a new start in life after
they have experienced maltreatment; and
WHEREAS, It is possible to fight child abuse and neglect with
community-based programs that reflect the diversity, strengths,
and resources of the many communities in this great state, and it is
a worthy goal for all citizens to seek to break the cycle of child
abuse and neglect in our country and to give victimized children
hope for the future; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas
Legislature hereby recognize April 2009 as Child Abuse Prevention
Month and commend all Texans who work in behalf of the abused and
neglected children of our state.