R 221623Z MAR 12
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 153/12
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH//
POC/MS. PAULETTE HUBBERT/NF5/UNIT:MFC2/-/TEL:703-784-9556//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.  THE MARINE CORPS THEME THIS YEAR IS "PREVENTING CHILD MALTREATMENT AND PROMOTING WELL-BEING: A NETWORK FOR ACTION."  EVERYONE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO END CHILD ABUSE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND PERSONAL SACRIFICES OUR CHILDREN MAKE TO OUR CORPS.  DURING APRIL, INSTALLATIONS SHOULD PROMOTE ACTIVITIES WITHIN UNITS THAT CREATIVELY FOCUS EFFORTS TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE AND ENRICH THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
2.  PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE COMMUNITY.  THEREFORE, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT COMMANDS:
A.  SUPPORT COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE PREVENTION EFFORTS BETWEEN PARENTS, LOCAL AGENCIES, AND MARINE CORPS SERVICE PROVIDERS (E.G., NEW PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM, MARINE AND FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS, CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS, AND MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES).  LOCAL INSTALLATION FAP OFFICES OR MILITARY ONESOURCE (WWW.MILITARYONESOURCE.COM OR 1-800-342-9647), STANDS PREPARED TO PROVIDE RESOURCES SPECIFIC TO CHILDREN AND CAN ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING CHILD CARE RESOURCES, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, CHILD DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES, AND PARENT RESOURCES TO HELP IN RAISING TODAY'S CHILDREN.
B.  INCREASE VISIBILITY AND SUPPORT OF MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION EFFORTS (E.G., NEW PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS, BABY BOOT CAMP, PLAY MORNING, AND SINGLE PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS).
3.  CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION IS A YEAR-LONG ACTIVITY AND IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THE MONTH OF APRIL.  KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY.  CHILDREN WHO ARE LOVED AND NURTURED TODAY BECOME TOMORROW'S HEALTHY ADULTS AND POSSIBLY FUTURE MARINES.  TOGETHER, WE CAN AND WILL PREVENT CHILD ABUSE.
4.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. F. HEDELUND, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//