R 071815Z MAR 11
MARADMIN 150/11
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)//
SUBJ/APRIL IS MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION//
POC/R. WILKES/NF-04/UNIT:MFY3/-/TEL:703-784-9553//
POC/A. ROYSTER/NF-04/UNIT:MFC2/-/TEL:703-784-9522//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  IN THE MONTH OF APRIL, MILITARY COMMUNITIES COME TOGETHER TO FOCUS ON TWO IMPORTANT EVENTS: MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION.  THIS MARADMIN EMPHASIZES THE SIGNIFICANCE OF PROVIDING ACTIVITIES ON INSTALLATIONS AND IN UNITS TO CELEBRATE CHILDREN AND YOUTH AND TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF CHILD ABUSE.
2.  MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD:  CASPER WEINBERGER, THE FORMER DEFENSE SECRETARY, ESTABLISHED APRIL AS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD THE IMPORTANT ROLE MILITARY CHILDREN PLAY IN THE ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY.  CHILDREN DEAL WITH HAVING PARENTS DEPLOYED AND UNDERGO UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF HAVING TO ADAPT TO THEIR PARENTS MILITARY OBLIGATIONS.  DESPITE THE CHALLENGES THEY FACE MILITARY CHILDREN REMAIN STRONG AND RESILIENT.
A.  INSTALLATION COMMANDERS AND CHILDREN, YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SPONSOR SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH TO HONOR MILITARY CHILDREN.  EVENTS SPONSORED MAY RANGE FROM PARADES TO FUN FESTIVALS TO RECOGNIZE AND APPLAUD FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR THE SACRIFICES THEY MAKE IN SUPPORTING MARINES.
3.  NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION:  THE MARINE CORPS THEME THIS YEAR IS "OUR CHILDREN. OUR FUTURE. OUR RESPONSIBILITY."  EVERYONE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO END CHILD ABUSE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND PERSONAL SACRIFICES OUR CHILDREN MAKE IN THE CORPS. IN SUPPORT OF PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE 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, CHILDREN, YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS, MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES). MILITARY ONESOURCE, AVAILABLE AT WWW.MILITARYONESOURCE.COM AND 1-800-342-9647, STANDS PREPARED TO PROVIDE AMPLE RESOURCES SPECIFIC TO CHILDREN AND CAN ALSO PROVIDE INFORMATION COVERING VARIOUS TOPICS INCLUDING CHILD CARE RESOURCES, INFORMATION AND REFERRAL, CHILD AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT MILESTONES, AND PARENT RESOURCES TO HELP IN RAISING TODAY'S CHILDREN.
B.  INCREASE VISIBILITY AND SUPPORT OF MCCS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION EFFORTS (E.G., NEW PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAMS, BABY BOOT CAMP, PLAY MORNING, SINGLE PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS).
4.  CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND CELEBRATING CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE A FOCUS ONLY DURING THE MONTH OF APRIL - BUT AT ALL TIMES.  KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY.  CHILDREN WHO ARE LOVED AND NURTURED TODAY BECOME TOMORROW'S HEALTHY ADULTS.
5.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. F. HEDELUND, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//