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 welfare professionals, education, health, community-based services, and faith-based organizations, businesses, law enforcement agencies, and families; and
WHEREAS, communities must make every effort to promote programs and activities that create strong and thriving children and families; and
WHEREAS, we acknowledge that we must work together as a community to increase awareness about child abuse and contribute to promote the social and emotional well-being of children and families in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul continues to provide safe programs and activities for children and families through our Parks and Recreation Department and Library Services; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Police Department continues its work with Ramsey County Child Protection to serve its victims and survivors to prevent child abuse in the City of Saint Paul; and
WHEREAS, prevention remains the best defense for our children and families; and now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, the City of Saint Paul remains committed to the health and safety of all children and families; and be it further
RESOLVED, the City of Saint Paul will partner with Saint Paul-Ramsey County Public Health and the Saint Paul and Ramsey County Domestic Abuse Intervention Project to incorporate child abuse and domestic violence prevention education in its landlord training classes and crime-free housing classes; and be it further
RESOLVED, the City of Saint Paul and its partners will also offer education to city staff to also recognize and report signs of child abuse and effectively respond to domestic violence; and be it finally
RESOLVED, the City of Saint Paul wishes to remember Melody Vang and the many victims of child abuse by recognizing April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month and proclaiming this resolution as the Melody Vang - Child Abuse Prevention Month in the City of Saint Paul.