[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 5, 2017)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 16709-16710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06944]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 82 , No. 64 / Wednesday, April 5, 2017 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 16709]]


                Proclamation 9582 of March 31, 2017

                
National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2017

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Childhood is precious. Growing up in a loving home, 
                with a nurturing family, surrounded by a safe community 
                gives our children the best opportunity to realize 
                their full potential. Sadly, mistreatment by parents, 
                guardians, relatives, or caregivers all too often 
                threatens children's ability to flourish. Abuse or 
                neglect can rob children of their sense of dignity and 
                worth, which are indispensable to the pursuit of 
                happiness and success in the classroom, in the 
                workplace, and in relationships. Children rightfully 
                impose a moral obligation on adults, who must protect 
                them from harm and preserve their opportunity to reach 
                their full potential and achieve their dreams. They 
                deserve nothing less. The dreams of our children are 
                the future of this country.

                As we observe National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we 
                renew our commitment to stop child abuse before it 
                begins. That means preventing destructive conduct from 
                shattering the secure and protective environments in 
                which our children deserve to live, learn, and thrive. 
                We must all be aware of the signs of child maltreatment 
                and take appropriate steps to safeguard children by 
                reporting concerns and connecting families with the 
                help they may need.

                The family is society's most important institution, and 
                its impact on human potential is unmatched by any other 
                influence that government, education, or even community 
                can wield. We must promote strong families. By 
                respecting and supporting parents, we will reduce risks 
                and increase the safety and protection critical to our 
                children's happiness and success. The best child abuse 
                prevention program is a strong family with well-
                equipped, mature, and child-focused parents. We 
                therefore celebrate the many community members who help 
                parents fulfill their moral obligations by providing 
                them a needed shoulder to lean on in troubled times.

                We also honor foster and adoptive parents, child 
                protective workers, faith leaders, community mentors, 
                teachers, and law enforcement officials, whose tireless 
                work every day protects children who have been 
                tragically abused or neglected. Their often thankless 
                service in these difficult and painful situations helps 
                restore the safety and dignity of these wounded 
                children and, in many cases, dramatically improves the 
                course of their precious lives. As a Nation, we pledge 
                to honor our commitment to protecting the vulnerable 
                among us, not just this month, but every day of the 
                year.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the 
                United States, do hereby proclaim April 2017 as 
                National Child Abuse Prevention Month. I call upon all 
                Americans to be alert to the safety and well-being of 
                children and to support efforts that promote their 
                physical, emotional, and developmental health.

[[Page 16710]]

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand seventeen, and of the Independence of the 
                United States of America the two hundred and forty-
                first.
                
                
                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 2017-06944
Filed 4-4-17; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F7-P