Recognizing April 2001 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.

WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect are serious and growing problems across America and throughout Philadelphia. More than thirty of Philadelphia's children are reported abused every single day; and

WHEREAS, The financial cost of responding to child abuse exceeds $10,000 per year per child, but effective prevention programs, comprised of health care, religious and civic organizations, among others, can turn the tide for children and their families; and

WHEREAS, Child abuse and neglect are diseases whose worst tragedy is that they are too often passed down through the generations. In all of this, the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children has been close to miraculous in its compassionate and wise intervention in the lives of at-risk children and families; and

WHEREAS, In our effort to keep all children safe from harm, safe in their homes and safe in the streets, we are encouraged by the fine work of the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children, an organization whose roots stretch back to 1835; and

WHEREAS, The staff and volunteers of the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children have made an historic commitment to the issue of combating child abuse and for the last twelve years have dedicated all resources and directed all efforts to prevent child abuse and sustain children safely with their families; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby recognize April 2001 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Philadelphia and urge all citizens to help keep our children safe. We also honor the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children and thank its members for their fine work.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Philadelphia Society for Services to Children as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.

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