Whereas the month of April has been designated
National Child Abuse Prevention Month
as an annual tradition
initiated in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter;
Whereas the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System
figures reveal that more than 900,000 children were victims of abuse and
neglect in the United States in 2006, causing unspeakable pain and suffering
for our most vulnerable citizens;
Whereas more than 4 children die as a result of abuse or
neglect in the United States each day;
Whereas children younger than 1 year old accounted for
approximately 44 percent of all child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2006, and
children younger than 3 years old accounted for approximately 78 percent of all
child abuse and neglect fatalities in 2006;
Whereas abusive head trauma, including the trauma known as
Shaken Baby Syndrome, is recognized as the leading cause of death among
physically abused children;
Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome can result in loss of vision,
brain damage, paralysis, seizures, or death;
Whereas 20 States have enacted statutes related to
preventing and increasing awareness of Shaken Baby Syndrome;
Whereas medical professionals believe that thousands of
additional cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome and other forms of abusive head trauma
are being misdiagnosed or are undetected;
Whereas Shaken Baby Syndrome often results in permanent,
irreparable brain damage or death of an infant and may result in extraordinary
costs for medical care in only the first few years of the life of the
child;
Whereas the most effective solution for preventing Shaken
Baby Syndrome is to prevent the abuse, and it is clear that the minimal costs
of education and prevention programs may prevent enormous medical and
disability costs and immeasurable amounts of grief for many families;
Whereas prevention programs have demonstrated that
educating new parents about the danger of shaking young children and how to
protect their children from injury can significantly reduce the number of cases
of Shaken Baby Syndrome;
Whereas education programs raise awareness and provide
critically important information about Shaken Baby Syndrome to parents,
caregivers, childcare providers, child protection employees, law enforcement
personnel, health care professionals, and legal representatives;
Whereas National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week and
efforts to prevent child abuse, including Shaken Baby Syndrome, are supported
by groups across the United States, including groups formed by parents and
relatives of children who have been killed or injured by shaking, whose mission
is to educate the general public and professionals about Shaken Baby Syndrome
and to increase support for victims and the families of the victims in the
health care and criminal justice systems;
Whereas the Senate previously designated the third week of
April 2007 as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week
;
and
Whereas the Senate strongly supports efforts to protect
children from abuse and neglect: Now, therefore, be it
That the Senate—
(1)designates the
third week of April 2008 as National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness
Week
;
(2)commends
hospitals, child care councils, schools, community groups, and other
organizations that are—
(A)working to
increase awareness of the danger of shaking young children;
(B)educating parents
and caregivers on how they can help protect children from injuries caused by
abusive shaking; and
(C)helping families
cope effectively with the challenges of child-rearing and other stresses in
their lives; and
(3)encourages the
people of the United States—
(A)to remember the
victims of Shaken Baby Syndrome; and
(B)to participate in
educational programs to help prevent Shaken Baby Syndrome.