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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
BLUE BOW CAMPAIGN
WHEREAS, child abuse is a community problem and finding solutions depends on involvement among people throughout the community including the courts; and
WHEREAS, statistics of children who are abused and neglected escalate each year, last year, Cook County had 9,678 reported cases; and
WHEREAS, the effects of child abuse are felt by whole communities, and must be addressed by the entire community; and
WHEREAS, in Cook County Court there were 1,214 child abuse cases filed in 2013, 1,531 cases filed in 2014 and over 200 cases filed in the first three months of 2015; and
WHEREAS, effective child abuse prevention programs succeed because of partnerships created among the courts, social service agencies, schools, religious organizations, law enforcement and the business community; and
WHEREAS, Parents Care + Share, a prevention program of Children's Home + Aid, offering positive parenting alternatives to help break the cycle of abuse, is sponsoring a Blue Bow Campaign to heighten awareness of the need to support families; and
WHEREAS, all citizens should become more aware of child abuse within the community and to become involved in its prevention and supporting parents to raise their children in a safe, nurturing environment; and
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Cook County calls upon all its citizens to create awareness and show their support of child abuse prevention month by wearing a blue ribbon and telling their family, friends and co-workers what the blue ribbon represents, building a blue ribbon tree to create a visual display of awareness and by signing the Parent Pledge to protect the children in their families and communities and prioritize child safety and well-being; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be tendered to Children's Home + Aid, in recognition of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and a suitable copy of the same be placed upon this auspicious body.
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