SENATE RESOLUTION

                         1995-8650

By Senators Franklin, Drew, Rasmussen, Sheldon, Kohl, Hochstatter, McCaslin, Hargrove, Newhouse, Schow, Spanel, Prince, Swecker, Strannigan, Johnson, Fraser, Roach, Hale, Quigley, Long, McAuliffe, Fairley, Smith, Wojahn, Bauer, Snyder, Prentice, Sutherland, Oke, Morton, West, Wood, Deccio, Gaspard, Loveland, Haugen, Heavey, Palmer, Pelz, Owen and Cantu

     WHEREAS, April is "Child Abuse Prevention Month," a time for all citizens to recognize the problem of abuse and neglect; and

     WHEREAS, Each week in Washington, more than 1,300 cases of suspected child  abuse and neglect are reported to the state's Child Protective Services; and

     WHEREAS, Most cases of child abuse and neglect go unreported, and the victims are left to fend for themselves; and

     WHEREAS, Aberrant behavior among adults is most frequently the result of the abuse and neglect they suffered as children; and

     WHEREAS, Child abuse is cyclic in nature, so that those who were abused as children are more likely to become child abusers themselves; and

     WHEREAS, Recent murders and other violence against children in our state are examples of child abuse in the extreme;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate does hereby urge all citizens to educate themselves about the signs of child abuse and neglect and not hesitate to get involved by reporting suspected cases to Child Protective Services; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Washingtonians recognize that all of our children, regardless of race, ethnic background, religion, or sex are equally deserving of protection from violence or other mistreatment; that they deserve lives free from the fear of abuse or neglect.  Let us therefore commit ourselves to the protection of our children; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Washington State Children's Alliance.

I, Marty Brown, Secretary of the Senate,

do hereby certify that this is a true and

correct copy of Senate Resolution 1995-8650,

adopted by the Senate April 19, 1995.

MARTY BROWN

Secretary of the Senate