MARADMINS : 136/05
R 211700Z MAR 05
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
TO AL MARADMIN(UC)
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 136/05
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. SINCE 1986, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAS
DESIGNATED APRIL AS "MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD." WE TAKE GREAT
PRIDE IN SETTING ASIDE THE MONTH TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND
PERSONAL SACRIFICES OUR CHILDREN MAKE FOR OUR CORPS.
2. INTEGRAL TO RECOGNIZING OUR CHILDREN IS ENSURING THEY GROW UP IN
HEALTHY HAPPY HOMES AND STRONG COMMUNITIES. THE NATIONAL CHILD
ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH THEME, "SAFE CHILDREN AND HEALTHY FAMILIES
ARE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY," IS ALSO PROMOTED DURING APRIL.
3. THE MARINE CORPS HAS ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY AND COORDINATED EFFORTS TO BUILD STRONG, SAFE
COMMUNITIES IN WHICH CHILDREN CAN THRIVE. COMBINING EFFORTS TO
RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTION AND VALUE OF OUR CHILDREN ENCOURAGES
COMMUNITIES TO SPONSOR JOINT EVENTS IN CELEBRATION OF THIS SPECIAL
MONTH. TOWARD THAT END, MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES (MCCS)
JOINS WITH COMMANDERS TO:
A. PROCLAIM APRIL AS MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND MARINE CORPS
CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.
B. PLAN CELEBRATORY EVENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR
FUTURE - OUR CHILDREN.
C. INCREASE VISIBILITY OF PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS
AVAILABLE THROUGH MCCS PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE NEW PARENT SUPPORT
PROGRAM (NPSP), AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.
D. SUPPORT COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE EFFORTS BETWEEN LOCAL
AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, PARENTS, AND MARINE AND FAMILY
SERVICES.//