[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2018)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 14343-14344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06922]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 83 , No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2018 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 14343]]


                Proclamation 9714 of March 29, 2018

                
National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2018

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Every child is a precious and unique gift who deserves 
                the security of a loving and nurturing home. When 
                supported by encouraging families and safe, strong 
                communities, all children have the chance to reach 
                their full potential and access the unlimited 
                opportunities that our great Nation has to offer. To 
                realize this truth, we must dedicate ourselves to the 
                noble cause of protecting and caring for our children.

                National Child Abuse Prevention Month is an annual 
                reminder that not every home is a haven of acceptance 
                and unconditional love. Too often, childhood is marred 
                with pain, violence, neglect, and abuse, which can have 
                lifelong psychological, emotional, and physical 
                consequences. At no fault of their own, some children 
                are subjected to the most depraved forms of child abuse 
                and neglect, without reprieve and, sometimes, without 
                any knowledge that they are being maltreated. The 
                statistics are shocking: a quarter of all children 
                experience some form of child abuse or neglect in their 
                lifetime. The financial consequences of this depravity 
                are dire. By some estimates, the lifetime cost of child 
                abuse and neglect is $124 billion per year. The human 
                cost--measured in lost development, potential, and 
                flourishing--is incalculable.

                To improve the statistics and the well-being of our 
                Nation's children, we must become more aware of the 
                signs and symptoms of child abuse and take action as 
                necessary. We should not allow pride or discomfort to 
                prevent us from helping a child who is truly suffering. 
                We must be a Nation committed to taking action in the 
                face of adversity and uncertainty, particularly when 
                done to enhance the safety or security of children.

                The Child Welfare Information Gateway (CWIG) notes that 
                children who show sudden changes in behavior, who have 
                not received treatment for physical or medical problems 
                brought to their parents' attention, or who are always 
                watchful, as if preparing for something bad to happen, 
                may be exhibiting signs of child abuse. Though the 
                presence of one or some of these signs alone does not 
                necessarily mean that a child has been the victim of 
                child abuse or neglect, it is vital that we understand 
                and remain vigilant for these indicators. As Americans 
                we must do all that we can.

                This month, we honor the professionals, volunteers, and 
                organizations who work tirelessly to protect at-risk 
                children and care for those who have experienced abuse 
                or neglect. This difficult work is critical to ensuring 
                the safety and protection of our children, to 
                strengthening our communities, and to stopping cycles 
                of violence harm. There are no substitutes for caring 
                parents and guardians. But we recognize that friends, 
                neighbors, educators, and places of worship have 
                important roles to play in fostering the well-being of 
                children. We are especially grateful to foster and 
                adoptive parents, who open their lives to children in 
                need of loving and caring homes. We can and should 
                continue to work together to help provide healthy, 
                happy, and safe environments for all children.

                We must always remember that all children are blessings 
                from our Creator. They are endowed from conception with 
                value, purpose, and human dignity. They are a source of 
                unmatched joy, and they represent our Nation's future.

[[Page 14344]]

                It is thus our civic and moral responsibility to help 
                every child experience a childhood free from abuse and 
                mistreatment, guiding them toward a future full of hope 
                and promise. I encourage all Americans to nurture the 
                children in their lives and to extend a hand to those 
                in need of love, protection, or even just attention. 
                Only together can we put an end to the tragedy of child 
                abuse and neglect. I am confident that our combined 
                efforts in combatting these evils will help create a 
                world that is more tender, compassionate, and inviting 
                to our children for centuries to come.

                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 2018 as 
                National Child Abuse Prevention Month. I call upon all 
                Americans to invest in the lives of our Nation's 
                children, to be aware of their safety and well-being, 
                and to support efforts that promote their 
                psychological, physical, and emotional development.

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

[FR Doc. 2018-06922
Filed 4-2-18; 11:15 am]
Billing code 3295-F8-P