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HR1158 |
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LRB094 20079 HSS 57663 r |
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| HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| WHEREAS, Each year, 1,500 children die and 140,000 children |
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| are injured because of child abuse, more than 2 million cases |
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| of child abuse and neglect are reported in the United States, |
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| and an estimated 150,000 to 200,000 new cases of sexual abuse |
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| occur; and
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| WHEREAS, There are several types of child abuse, including |
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| domestic abuse in the home, Shaken Baby Syndrome, neglect, |
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| physical abuse, emotional abuse, and child abandonment; and
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| WHEREAS, Children who suffer abuse develop a range of |
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| maladaptive, anti-social, and self-destructive behaviors and |
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| thoughts in trying to cope with the abuse; children who are |
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| victims of sexual abuse experience depression, anxiety, guilt, |
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| fear, sexual dysfunction, dissociative symptoms, eating |
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| disorders, substance abuse, prostitution, regressive behaviors |
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| such as a return to thumb-sucking or bed-wetting, runaway |
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| behavior, and academic and behavior problems; and
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| WHEREAS, The costs of child abuse to society are great and |
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| include human suffering; medical care for injuries; medical |
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| care for the long term effects on survivors; mental health care |
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| for survivors; substance abuse treatment for survivors; mental |
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| health treatment for abusers; criminal justice system costs for |
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| police intervention, arrests, prosecution, and incarceration; |
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| legal system costs for lawyers, judges, and courtrooms; costs |
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| to our educational system for special education services and |
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| counseling services; and social service costs for shelters, |
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| foster care, emergency housing, and case workers; and
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| WHEREAS, There are many things that the public can do to |
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| prevent child abuse, including being educated regarding the |
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| signs of child abuse, what constitutes child abuse, and why it |
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| is wrong, and the best way to prevent child abuse; therefore, |