Title
Proclaiming April as the Melody Vang Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Saint Paul.
Body
WHEREAS, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month; and
WHEREAS, 2-year old Melody Vang, a Saint Paul resident, sparked joy in the lives of her family, foster family, and community; and
WHEREAS, Melody Vang would have had a very full and rich life, contributing her many skills and talents to our communities; and
WHEREAS, she was and a victim of child abuse and died of closed head trauma due to assault on January 11, 2021; and
WHEREAS, in Ramsey County, there were 5,711 reports made to Child Protection Services in 2020; 2,448 cases were investigated or assessed and the remaining 3,263 were screened-out; and
WHEREAS, calls made to Child Protection Agencies are cross reported with local law enforcement agencies and may also be referred to other programs; and
WHEREAS, in the City of Saint Paul, there were 1,673 child protection investigations/assessments completed in 2020; and
WHEREAS, in 2020, over 100 child abuse cases were reported and investigated in the City of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, child abuse and neglect remain a serious problem affecting every segment of our community, and finding solutions requires input and action from everyone; and
WHEREAS, child abuse, both physical and emotional, can have long-term psychological, emotional, and physical effects that have lasting consequences for victims of abuse; and
WHEREAS, our children are our most valuable resources and will shape the future of our communities, city and state; and
WHEREAS, all children deserve a safe, stable, and nurturing environment with built-in community systems that support them and their families; and
WHEREAS, protective factors are conditions that reduce or eliminate risk and promote the social, emotional, and developmental well-being of children; and
WHEREAS, effective child abuse prevention activities succeed because of the partnerships created between child ...
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