Governor Doyle Proclaims April Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month
Press Release
Declares April 30th as Annual "Celebrate Children Day" in Wisconsin
Governor Jim Doyle has proclaimed April as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month in Wisconsin, and declared April 30th as the annual "Celebrate Children - A Blue Ribbon Day for Kids."
"This state should be a place where our kids can grow up knowing that their highest ambitions are never out of reach," Governor Doyle said. "We must continue our commitment to ensuring that our children have a hopeful, healthy future - not just in April, but throughout the year."
The Wisconsin Children's Trust Fund, Children's Hospital and Health System's Child Abuse Prevention Fund and Prevent Child Abuse Wisconsin sponsor the "Blue Ribbons for Kids" campaign in April and throughout the year. The blue ribbon is a memorial to children who have been affected by abuse and neglect, and a symbol of the need to support children and parents to reduce the likelihood of child maltreatment.
Communities across Wisconsin are planning activities throughout April to spread the word that everyone has a role to play in making our communities safe and supporting families in ways that prevents child maltreatment. The month will end with many communities holding events to honor and celebrate children on April 30th.
"'Celebrate Children's Day' is about honoring children in positive ways," Department of Health and Family Services Secretary Kevin Hayden said. "Children deserve to be safe and happy, and Children's Day is a reminder to all of us that we have a responsibility to ensure the health and well-being of our youngest citizens."
According to the Department's 2005 Child Abuse and Neglect report, there were 40,917 reports of suspected maltreatment in 2005 in Wisconsin. In about 20 percent of the reported cases, investigators found evidence that a child had been abuse or neglected. That's 8,148 children, or an average of 23 children per day in 2005 in Wisconsin. Twelve children - all two years of age or younger - died in 2005 in Wisconsin from child maltreatment.
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