Presidential Document2022-07273
National Child Abuse Prevention Month, 2022
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 5, 2022
Signed
March 31, 2022
Issuing agencies
Executive Office of the President
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2022)</title>
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[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 [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-07273]
Presidential Documents
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
<a href="http://childwelfare.gov">childwelfare.gov</a>.
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.
<GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT>
(Presidential Sig.)
[FR Doc. 2022-07273
Filed 4-4-22; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3395-F2-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on April 5, 2022.
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