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 potential impact for future generations; 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, childhood trauma, including abuse and neglect, affects every segment of our community, and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone; and

WHEREAS, child sexual abuse is one of the leading public health issues affecting children, carrying profound and long-lasting consequences for their physical, emotional, and psychological well-being; and

WHEREAS, child trafficking, also known as the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), is a grave human rights violation that poses serious public health and criminal justice concerns, occurring daily across the United States; and

WHEREAS, the prevention of child abuse, exploitation, and trafficking requires a collective effort, with widespread community engagement, education, and awareness playing a vital role in protecting children and reducing harm; and

WHEREAS, protective factors such as economic and social supports create conditions that reduce or eliminate risk and promote the social, emotional, and developmental well-being of children; 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, through partnership with numerous state agencies and non-governmental organizations, the Commonwealth of Virginia established a five-year child welfare prevention plan targeting resources and services to prevent abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time for Virginians and Americans to be reminded of the courage and responsibility it takes to raise a child as we strive 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 2025, as CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.