[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 14 (Tuesday, February 15, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E147]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING EFFORTS TO ENHANCE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF 
               SOCIAL PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 14, 2000

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. 
Con. Res. 76, recognizing the social problem of child abuse and 
neglect, and supporting efforts to enhance public awareness of it. 
Through the efforts of Childhelp USA, a ``Day of Hope'' will be 
observed on the first Wednesday in April to focus public awareness on 
this social ill.
  Childhelp USA has been coming to the rescue of children in distress 
since 1959. It is one of America's oldest and largest organizations 
dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse.
  Childhelp's many excellent programs help keep children safe. 
Childhelp training programs instruct adults who work with children on 
how to recognize the signs and symptoms of abuse, how to respond to a 
child who discloses abuse and how to interrupt a suspected abuse 
situation. Childhelp Abuse Prevention instructors teach school children 
the knowledge and skills they need to prevent or interrupt abuse. This 
organization provides a 24-hour National Child Abuse Hotline, which 
delivers free, high quality professional counseling services to 
children and families in crisis and connects them with social service 
and law enforcement agencies in their community. Child Advocacy Centers 
have implemented programs that work with law enforcement and child 
protective services to investigate abuse reports in a manner that 
avoids further trauma to the victim. Childhelp Head Start classes 
provides early enrichment for at-risk children and parenting education 
for their mothers and fathers. The Villages of Childhelp and Childhelp 
therapeutic foster homes provide the finest available residential care 
and treatment for victims of severe abuse.
  There is an epidemic of violence against children in America. The 
direct and collateral damage to the individual and the community is 
vast. A problem this large will end only when everyone does something 
to help. I commend Childhelp USA for all that it does for America's 
children and families, and for it superior model of service in the 8th 
district of VA, and throughout the country.

                          ____________________