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3 <br /> 1 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/Special Presentations <br /> 2 a. Child Abuse Prevention Month Proclamation <br /> 3 The Board approved a proclamation declaring April 2026 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 fiscal year 2024-2025, <br /> 8 526 reports of suspected child maltreatment were assessed in Orange County. For the State of <br /> 9 North Carolina, there were 57,750 reports assessed within the same period. Currently, 80 children <br /> 10 are in the custody of Orange County Social Services due to serious abuse and neglect issues <br /> 11 within their families. In December 2025, there were 11,181 children in custody of social services <br /> 12 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 Everyone is encouraged to Wear Blue on Friday, April 10, 2026 in recognition of Child Abuse <br /> 29 Prevention Month. Social Services is planning to provide awareness materials to community <br /> 30 members at the Sportsplex Family Fun Day on April 11, 2026. <br /> 31 <br /> 32 The Board of Commissioners is asked to support this effort and to encourage the community to <br /> 33 become more aware of the issues impacting children and families. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 Brittany Mann, Program Manager, introduced the item and reviewed the background <br /> 36 information. <br /> 37 <br /> 38 Commissioners read the following proclamation in turn: <br /> 39 <br /> 40 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> 41 PROCLAMATION <br /> 42 CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH <br /> 43 April 2026 <br /> 44 <br /> 45 WHEREAS, child abuse and neglect is a serious problem affecting every segment of our <br /> 46 community, and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone; and <br /> 47 <br /> 48 WHEREAS, in fiscal year 2024-2025, 526 reports of suspected child maltreatment were assessed <br /> 49 by child protective services in Orange County; and <br /> 50 <br />