National Child Abuse Prevention Month

For Immediate Release: April 1, 2010

Contact: Ami Shah | shah@senate.state.ny.us | 518-455-3531

Senator Shirley L. Huntley Urges New Yorkers to Stand up for Children During National Child Abuse Prevention Month

(Albany, NY) April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about child abuse and encourage communities to take a stand for the safety and well-being of our children. Every New Yorker has a stake in the well-being of our Nation’s children, noted Senator Shirley L. Huntley (D-Jamaica) and The National Child Abuse Prevention Month provides the opportunity to underscore our commitment to preventing and responding appropriately to incidences of child abuse.

In 2006, more than 1.25 million, or 1 in every 58 children in the United States were abused or neglected. In 2008, New York State Child Protective Services reported that more than 161,000 children were neglected and abused. Victims often vary by age and can be as young as under a year old. The millions of Children suffering from child abuse every year, many of them are vulnerable to different types of abuse.

It is mistakenly thought, quite commonly though, that child abuse refers to only physical abuse. It actually comprises of four different types of abuse: child neglect, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse. Each type of abuse negatively affects the child’s social, emotional, physical, and mental state.

Child abuse should not be tolerated under any circumstance. Learning the signs and symptoms of child abuse is crucial in taking a stance and becoming the voice for these young boys and girls, because if we will not, no one will. To learn signs and symptoms of child abuse, please go to www.childwelfare.gov.

There are many ways to make a difference in preventing child abuse and neglect, which include:

• Report known or suspected child abuse to the local police department.

• Organizing an event to raise money for programs serving abused children.

• Helping out a stressed-out parent by offering to baby-sit, make dinner or just lend an understanding ear.

• Volunteering your time and talents to a facility that utilizes community volunteers.

For more information on these and others ideas for how to get involved, please go to http://www.childhelp.org. Ifyou think that a child may be at risk of child abuse or neglect, contact the New York State Child Abuse Hotline (State Central Register) at 1-800-342-3720.

“Thousands of New York children are facing physical and emotional abuse every day,” said Senator Huntley. “It is important that we meet the needs of abused and neglected children so they may have a better life. I encourage all New Yorkers to become aware of child abuse and help families overcome this devastating problem.” Protecting our future means protecting our children.