[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12383]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING THE CHILD ASSAULT PREVENTION (CAP) PROJECT OF SOUTH FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 14, 2007

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to call your attention 
to the Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Project of South Florida, whose 
efforts on behalf of so many families in my Congressional district 
should be applauded. This program has partnered with local schools in 
Miami-Dade County, Florida, the fourth largest school district in the 
country, to address the growing number of social issues affecting our 
children.
  Many social challenges facing students today are felt away from home, 
oftentimes in the classroom. By offering interactive workshops at local 
schools, students gain an understanding of how to deal with situations 
they have already faced or may soon encounter. These circumstances 
range from instances of bullying and peer aggression to cases of sexual 
harassment and abuse. Often times, these topics are not comfortable for 
students to deal with, making CAP's role vital for the social well-
being of our children.
  As a mother of two girls currently attending college, I understand 
how important these programs can be in making parents and loved ones 
feel more comfortable about their children's education. With enrollment 
at schools growing, classroom sizes have increased nationwide at our 
public schools. This has made it more difficult for teachers to enforce 
respectable and cordial behavior. Therefore, it is imperative that 
schools and teachers receive proper support from outside specialists 
like CAP.
  CAP's range of expertise extends beyond the classroom. Counseling can 
be crucial for children in the unfortunate circumstance of neglect and 
abuse at home. In cases of sexual harassment and abuse, counseling at 
school is sometimes the only outlet for children. This makes CAP's role 
even greater in South Florida's schools.
  Since 1984, CAP has provided abuse prevention strategies to over 
270,000 children, families and teachers in Miami-Dade County. Abuse 
prevention workshops oftentimes provide children with the tools 
necessary to protect themselves from conflicts, either at school or at 
home. The Child Assault Prevention (CAP) Project of South Florida 
provides a great example of community organizations working together 
with schools to improve learning environments for our children.
  Once again, I commend CAP for its efforts on behalf of so many in my 
community.

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