Tue UNirepo StTaTes Vircin ISLANDS



OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

GOVERNMENT HOUSE



Charlotte Amalie, V.1. 00802

340-774-0001



CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH



RREEAERAEEERREE



BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES



PRESS ARAAKRAAAE



A PROCLAMATION



Children are vital to our territory’s future success, prosperity and quality of life as

well as being our most vulnerable assets.



Nationally, it is estimated that more than 1580 children die each year — between

four and five children a day - from child abuse and neglect.



Unemployment, poverty, parental drug and alcohol abuse; stress, social isolation

and violent communities are identified risk factors for child maltreatment.



Both territory wide and nationally, child abuse is considered to be one of our

nation’s most serious public health problems with scientific studies documenting the link

between the abuse and neglect of children and a wide range of medical, psychological and

behavioral disorders such as depression, alcoholism, drug abuse, severe obesity and

juvenile delinquency.



All children deserve to have the safe, stable, nurturing homes and communities they

need to foster their healthy growth and development.



Child abuse and neglect is a community responsibility affecting both the current

and future quality of life of a community.



Communities that provide parents with the social support, knowledge of parenting

and child development and concrete resources they need to cope with stress and nurture

their children ensure all children grow to their full potential.



Prevention strengthens families and is cost effective. Research shows that spending

for child abuse prevention programs saves dollars that would be spent for crisis-oriented

Proclamation — Child Abuse Prevention Month

Page 2



programming such as protective services, foster care, special education and counseling.

This does not take into account juvenile delinquency or adult incarceration.



Effective child abuse prevention strategies succeed because of partnerships created

amongst citizens, human service agencies, schools, faith communities, health care

providers, civic organizations, law enforcement agencies, and the business community.



Child abuse prevention is an acknowledged community responsibility, on behalf of

the United States Virgin Islands’ children, this month and each thereafter we shall commit

to The Power of One. This territorial initiative under the leadership of the Virgin Islands

Department of Human Services asserts that the power of one person, one community, one

dollar, one action, etc., during April will help to protect children from abuse and neglect

throughout the United States Virgin Islands.



NOW, THEREFORE, I, Kenneth E. Mapp, Governor of the Virgin Islands of the

United States, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Revised Organic Act of 1954.

as amended, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2017, as Child Abuse Prevention

Month in the United States Virgin Islands. I call upon the people of the Virgin Islands to

join me in helping to protect our children. I extend great appreciate to our social workers

and all those professionals who work on behalf of the children of the Virgin Islands.



IN WITNESS, WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and cause the Seal of

the Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States to be affixed at Charlotte Amalie,

St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, this \!\_ day of April, 2017, A.D.



Kennéth E. Mapp

Governor



Attest:



Osbert E. Potter

Lieutenant Governor



[2]