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4 <br /> 1 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/Special Presentations <br /> 2 a. Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation <br /> 3 The Board approved a proclamation designating April 2024 as Child Abuse Prevention Month. <br /> 4 <br /> 5 BACKGROUND: April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The Department of Social <br /> 6 Services and other community organizations are concerned about the continued incidence of child <br /> 7 abuse and neglect in Orange County and in the state of North Carolina. In the fiscal year 2022- <br /> 8 2023, 556 reports of suspected child maltreatment were assessed in Orange County. For the state <br /> 9 of North Carolina, there were 61,624 reports assessed within the same period. Currently, 89 <br /> 10 children are in the custody of Orange County Social Services due to serious abuse and neglect <br /> 11 issues within their families. In January 2024, there were 10,803 children in the custody of social <br /> 12 services across the state. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 Most child abuse and neglect issues reported to Social Services involve substance use, domestic <br /> 15 violence, unsafe discipline, supervision, or care of children. Social Services is working to increase <br /> 16 education and awareness of these issues and to try to find strategies to improve the safety of <br /> 17 children in the community. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Community members can make a difference in the life of a child by making connections. Lending <br /> 20 a helping hand or listening ear to a parenting neighbor or friend can help alleviate stress and <br /> 21 provide a positive impact on a child's life. Increasing social connection and providing concrete <br /> 22 support are integral protective factors. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 Parents, grandparents, and family members can ensure children are safe in their care by properly <br /> 25 securing firearms and ensuring all medications or potentially harmful substances are inaccessible <br /> 26 to children. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Social Services and the County Health Department will be providing awareness materials to <br /> 29 community members at the Health on the Block event at Hargraves Park on April 6, 2024, and at <br /> 30 the Sportsplex Family Fun Day on April 20, 2024. Social Services will also be providing Pinwheels <br /> 31 for Prevention and Child Abuse Prevention Month signs to be displayed outside of public <br /> 32 elementary schools in Orange County. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 The Board of Commissioners is asked to support this effort and to encourage the community to <br /> 35 become more aware of the issues impacting children and families. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Vice-Chair Greene read the proclamation: <br /> 38 <br /> 39 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 40 PROCLAMATION <br /> 41 CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH <br /> 42 April 2024 <br /> 43 <br /> 44 WHEREAS, child abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting every segment of our <br /> 45 community, and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone; and <br /> 46 <br /> 47 WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2022-2023, 556 reports of suspected child maltreatment were assessed <br /> 48 by child protective services in Orange County; and <br /> 49 <br /> 50 WHEREAS, child abuse can have long-term psychological, emotional, and physical effects that <br /> 51 have lasting consequences for victims of abuse; and <br />