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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: March 16, 2004 <br />Action Agen a <br />Item No. <br />SUBJECT: Child Abuse Prevention Month <br />DEPARTMENT: Social Services PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Proclamation <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Nancy Coston, 968-2000, ext 223 <br />TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br />Hillsborough 732-8181 <br />Chapel Hill 968-4501 <br />Durham 688-7331 <br />Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To request that the Board of Commissioners declare April as Child Abuse <br />Prevention Month. <br />BACKGROUND: April is national child abuse prevention month. The Department of Social <br />Services and other community organizations are concerned about the continued high incidence <br />of child abuse and neglect in Orange County. During Fiscal Year 2001-2002, over 1365 <br />children in Orange County were in situations referred to Social Services for suspected abuse <br />and neglect. Over 115 children are in the custody of Social Services due to serious abuse and <br />neglect issues within their families. <br />The majority of child abuse and neglect issues reported to Social Services involve parenting <br />issues such as inappropriate discipline, supervision or care of children. Orange County Social <br />Services has recently received excellent feedback for its child protective services program. <br />These activities, however, occur after there is an incident or allegation of actual abuse and <br />neglect. Child abuse prevention month provides an opportunity for the community to focus on <br />ways to prevent the occurrence of such incidents. Local organizations are sponsoring various <br />activities this month to increase education and awareness of these issues and to try to find <br />strategies to improve the safety of children in the community. <br />The Commissioners are asked to support this effort and to encourage the community to <br />become more aware of the issues impacting children and families. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: None. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board adopt the proclamation <br />declaring April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Orange County.