Child Abuse Prevention Month

By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:

WHEREAS, children are the foundation of a sustainable and prosperous society, and our welfare as a Commonwealth and a nation is built on a foundation of safe and healthy child development; and

WHEREAS, child abuse is among our nation’s foremost public health issues, with studies revealing a direct link between the abuse and neglect of children and long-term psychological, emotional, and physical effects, often with lifelong consequences for victims of abuse; and

WHEREAS, the Virginia Department of Social Services reports that child abuse affects more than 120,000 families each year in the Commonwealth as documented by local departments of social services; and

WHEREAS, every child is entitled to love and care in a safe and nurturing environment free from abuse and neglect with access to the support and educational opportunities needed to help them grow and thrive; and

WHEREAS, creating communities where Virginia’s families are supported and strengthened through meaningful partnerships between schools, professional health services, community and faith-based organizations, businesses and law enforcement can prevent child abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time for Virginians and Americans to be reminded of the courage it takes to raise a child and the demands and responsibilities of parents in rearing children; and

WHEREAS, we must work together as a Commonwealth to increase awareness about child abuse and neglect while creating safe and healthy environments for children to live with supportive families and engaged communities;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize April 2023, as CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of our citizens.

Governor of Virginia

Proclamations