Austin News

U.S. Senators John Cornyn, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Marsha Blackburn, Maggie Hassan, and John Hickenlooper have introduced a Senate resolution to designate April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This initiative emphasizes the importance of preventing child abuse and supporting families across the United States.

The resolution has received support from over 20 national and state organizations, including Prevent Child Abuse America and Buckner International. It links adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to numerous long-term health issues and underscores the significant collective responsibility in preventing ACEs and promoting positive childhood experiences.

The resolution addresses alarming statistics, noting that an estimated 7,782,000 children were referred to child protective services in 2023. It also highlights that 1 in 7 children in the U.S. faces abuse or neglect annually, and 93% of child sexual abuse victims suffer at the hands of someone they know and trust. Reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline reveal nearly 36,200,000 cases of suspected online child sexual exploitation in 2023, marking a 12% increase from the previous year.

Education on the signs of child abuse is emphasized for prevention, alongside voluntary home-visiting programs that have shown positive impacts on reducing abuse and improving child outcomes.

“Resolved, That the Senate—(1) supports the designation of April 2025 as ‘National Child Abuse Prevention Month’; (2) expresses support for the goals and ideals of National Child Abuse Prevention Month; (3) recognizes that child abuse and neglect and child sexual abuse are preventable, and that a healthy and prosperous society depends on strong families and communities; (4) supports efforts to increase the awareness of, and provide education for, the general public of the United States, with respect to preventing child abuse and neglect and building protective factors for families; (5) supports the efforts to help survivors of childhood sexual abuse heal; (6) supports justice for victims of childhood sexual abuse; and (7) recognizes the need for prevention, healing, and justice efforts related to childhood abuse, neglect, and sexual abuse.”