[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 6192]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 APRIL IS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Shows) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SHOWS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my colleagues that the 
month of April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. I have been heartened 
to see so many of my colleagues in Congress and members of my community 
in Mississippi wear the blue ribbons. This simple act has solidified 
support and raised attention across the United States to our national 
concern of child abuse. I am proud to join this effort.
  Today I would like to commend the Southwest Mississippi Children's 
Advocacy Center located in McComb, Mississippi for its fine efforts 
towards assisting children and families victimized by abuse. This 
private, nonprofit center was just opened this past January under the 
excellent leadership of Director Ben Hess, offers a comprehensive 
program of services, working in conjunction with law enforcement, the 
court system, schools, hospitals and parents. This center is a model 
for the coordination of available community services.
  One of the cruelest realities of child abuse is that children often 
feel victimized again in their experience with the criminal justice 
system. The Southwest Mississippi Children's Advocacy Center assists in 
minimizing the chaos of this experience by centralizing many necessary 
services at their center. Children may now have their initial 
interview, court school preparation, referral for medical services and 
therapy services all in the confines of this cheerfully decorated, 
child-friendly center.
  The Southwest Mississippi Children's Advocacy Center is also 
proactive in implementing preventive programming in the 14 counties 
they serve. Its staff regularly visits elementary schools to teach 
children how to be better advocates for themselves through classes 
teaching communication skills, body safety, positive assertiveness and 
self-esteem. In addition, its positive parenting classes give parents 
the opportunity to learn effective ways to control anger and handle 
conflict.
  The anger and sadness we all feel towards the insidious epidemic of 
child abuse has motivated the Southwest Mississippi Children's Advocacy 
Center into action. I am extremely proud to have such a fine center in 
our district, and I call on all of my colleagues to rise with me in 
recognition of its outstanding advocacy for children.

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