[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2022)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 19585-19586]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07273]


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  Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 65 / Tuesday, April 5, 2022 / 
Presidential Documents  

[[Page 19585]]


                Proclamation 10359 of March 31, 2022

                
National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2022

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Every child deserves to live in a safe and loving 
                household; yet, for hundreds of thousands of children 
                across our Nation, abuse and neglect are a tragic 
                reality. During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 
                our country stands as one to condemn and combat child 
                abuse in all of its forms--including physical, 
                emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as online sexual 
                exploitation; we raise awareness about the risk factors 
                that can lead to child abuse and neglect; and we 
                highlight the importance of supporting families to 
                prevent child maltreatment. As a Nation, we must work 
                together to prevent and address child abuse and ensure 
                that every child can grow up in a safe environment and 
                live a happy, prosperous life.

                Child abuse crosses all socioeconomic and educational 
                levels, religions, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. 
                We know that abuse and neglect negatively impact every 
                aspect and stage of a child's life. Child abuse impacts 
                the ability of students to succeed in school and often 
                hinders their ability to forge healthy relationships 
                with their loved ones and peers. It is associated with 
                involvement in the juvenile justice system, especially 
                for girls who have experienced sexual abuse. One of the 
                most important tools to break the cycle and eliminate 
                the tragedy of child abuse and neglect is prevention. 
                This requires that we support and uplift our 
                communities, families, and individuals so that our 
                children can be raised in safe, loving, and healthy 
                environments. For those children and adolescents who do 
                experience abuse, it is important to ensure access to 
                trauma-informed services and healing.

                In order to help prevent child abuse and neglect, my 
                Administration is committed to providing high-quality 
                and equitable support to all families that need it. The 
                American Rescue Plan provided cash assistance to 
                millions of working families and expanded the Child Tax 
                Credit--which lifted millions of children and families 
                out of poverty. It supplied critical funding to support 
                State and community child abuse prevention and response 
                efforts and authorized an additional $250 million for 
                community-based child abuse prevention programs. This 
                additional funding has allowed communities to address 
                the complex structural issues that contribute to 
                families becoming involved in the child welfare system. 
                At a time when families are experiencing elevated 
                hardships, especially vulnerable families that have 
                been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, this 
                extra support is more important than ever. Also, I was 
                proud to sign into law a bill to help sustain the Crime 
                Victims Fund, which provides assistance for child 
                advocacy centers and other programs to address child 
                abuse.

                I was raised to believe that one of the greatest sins 
                is the abuse of power, and there is no greater abuse of 
                power than the abuse of a child. National Child Abuse 
                Prevention Month is an opportunity to take bold action 
                to better support parents and caregivers with access to 
                resources to cope during challenging times. It is also 
                a time to identify and take the necessary steps to 
                address inequities experienced by those who have been 
                historically underserved and adversely affected by 
                continuous poverty and inequality. Reducing child 
                poverty is critical to reducing the disproportional 
                representation of

[[Page 19586]]

                low-income children and families--especially 
                communities of color--in the child welfare system and 
                foster care.

                Our Nation is also witnessing a cynical and dangerous 
                campaign waged by some elected leaders who are 
                attempting to weaponize the child welfare system 
                against families just because they love and affirm 
                their transgender children. These leaders have sought 
                to direct child abuse investigations into families 
                simply because they have provided access to affirming 
                care for their children. These discriminatory actions 
                threaten to hurt our Nation's children and must stop. 
                Affirming a transgender child's identity is one of the 
                best things that a parent, teacher, or doctor can do to 
                keep children from harm. My Administration will 
                continue to take actions to keep transgender children 
                and their families safe. That is why the Department of 
                Health and Human Services recently released new 
                guidance to State child welfare agencies on how they 
                can support and affirm LGBTQI+ children who are in 
                foster care.

                During National Child Abuse Prevention Month and 
                throughout the year, I call upon everyone to stand 
                together against child abuse and neglect and show our 
                appreciation of the hardworking child-welfare workforce 
                and allies who are steadfast in their commitment to 
                strengthening families, protecting children, and 
                combating systemic inequities. For more information on 
                how professionals and communities are supporting 
                families and to learn strategies to advance equity in 
                child abuse prevention programs, please view the 2021/
                2022 Prevention Resource Guide, available at 
                childwelfare.gov.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., 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 2022 as 
                National Child Abuse Prevention Month. I call upon all 
                Americans to observe this month by joining together as 
                a Nation to promote the safety and well-being of all 
                children and families and to recognize the child-
                welfare workforce and allies who work tirelessly to 
                protect our children. And we honor the strength and 
                resilience of adult survivors of child abuse.

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

[FR Doc. 2022-07273
Filed 4-4-22; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P