2016
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 16-025
       
       
       BY SENATOR(S) Newell, Aguilar, Baumgardner, Carroll, Cooke,
       Crowder, Donovan, Garcia, Grantham, Guzman, Heath, Hill, Hodge,
       Holbert, Jahn, Johnston, Jones, Kefalas, Kerr, Lambert, Lundberg,
       Marble, Martinez Humenik, Merrifield, Neville T., Roberts, Scheffel,
       Scott, Sonnenberg, Steadman, Tate, Todd, Ulibarri, Woods, Cadman;
       also REPRESENTATIVE(S) Singer, Arndt, Becker K., Brown, Buckner,
       Carver, Conti, Court, Danielson, DelGrosso, Duran, Esgar, Everett,
       Fields, Foote, Garnett, Ginal, Hamner, Kagan, Klingenschmitt,
       Kraft-Tharp, Lebsock, Lee, Leonard, Lontine, McCann, Melton, Mitsch
       Bush, Moreno, Pabon, Pettersen, Primavera, Priola, Rosenthal, Roupe,
       Ryden, Salazar, Sias, Thurlow, Tyler, Van Winkle, Vigil, Willett,
       Williams, Windholz, Winter, Wist, Young, Hullinghorst.
       
       
          CONCERNING THE DESIGNATION OF APRIL 2016 AS "CHILD
       ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH". 
       
       
          WHEREAS, Children are key to Colorado's future success, prosperity,
       and quality of life; while children are our most precious resource, they are
       also our most vulnerable; and
       
          WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect is a serious and reprehensible
       problem in our society; and
       
          WHEREAS, In 2014, there were nearly 10,000 confirmed cases of
       child abuse and neglect in Colorado, and 20 children died as a result; in
       the United States there were over 700,000 confirmed cases of child abuse
       and neglect, and 1,580 children died as a result; and
       
          WHEREAS, Groundbreaking studies, like the Adverse Childhood
       Experiences Study, have revealed the significant, increased long-term
       health and mental health risks to children exposed to traumatic adverse
       experiences, including heart disease, chronic lung disease, liver disease,
       and suicide; and
       
          WHEREAS, This research shows that the impacts of child abuse and
       neglect on our children and our society are even greater than we
       previously thought and that we must begin a new dialogue and evolve
       how we think and talk about child abuse and neglect; and
       
          WHEREAS, Preventing and treating child abuse and neglect must be
       a high priority in our communities, our state, and the nation at large;
       children have a right to be safe and to have the opportunity to thrive,
       learn, and grow; and
       
          WHEREAS, We, as a community, must come together to extend a
       helping hand to children and families in need, so that their voices are
       heard by all; and
       
          WHEREAS, By providing safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and
       environments for our children, free of violence, abuse, and neglect, we
       can ensure that Colorado children will grow to their full potential as the
       next generation of leaders, helping to secure the future of this state and
       nation; now, therefore
       
          Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Seventieth General Assembly of the
       State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein:
       
          (1)  That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly,
       proclaim April 2016 as "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in the state of
       Colorado;
       
          (2)  That we encourage every person to perform a positive act each
       day on behalf of children; and
       
          (3)  That we call upon all citizens, community and faith-based
       organizations, businesses, and government agencies to create alliances to
       increase their efforts to strengthen Colorado families and to prevent child
       abuse and neglect, thereby strengthening the communities of this state.
       
          
       
       
       Be It Further Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to
       Governor John Hickenlooper; The Kempe Center; Illuminate Colorado;
       Prevent Child Abuse Colorado; the Colorado Department of Human
       Services; Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment;
       CASA in Colorado; the Colorado Children's Campaign; Rocky Mountain
       Children's Law Center; Colorado Nurse-Family Partnership; the Office
       of the Child Protection Ombudsman; and Children's Hospital Colorado.
       
       
       
       
       
       ____________________________  ____________________________
       Bill L. Cadman               Dickey Lee Hullinghorst
       PRESIDENT OF                    SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
       THE SENATE                        OF REPRESENTATIVES
       
       
       
       
       
       
       ____________________________  ____________________________
       Effie Ameen                           Marilyn Eddins
       SECRETARY OF                CHIEF CLERK OF THE HOUSE
       THE SENATE                        OF REPRESENTATIVES