MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH
Date Signed: 3/22/2007 | MARADMINS Number: 215/07
Cancelled
MARADMINS : 215/07
UNCLAS 221403Z MAR 07
CMC WASHINGTON DC(UC)
AL MARADMIN(UC)
MARADMIN
MARADMIN 215/07
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MR//
SUBJ/MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE
PREVENTION MONTH//
POC/RHUDINE WILKES/NF-4/MRZ3/-/TEL:703-784-9553//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  APRIL IS THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND
NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.  THE MARINE CORPS TAKES
GREAT PRIDE IN HONORING THE CHILDREN OF OUR MARINES AND REMAINS
WHOLLY COMMITTED TO ENSURING THEIR SAFETY.
2.  THE MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD RECOGNIZES SOME OF OUR NATION'S
MOST PATRIOTIC CITIZENS:  THE CHILDREN OF MILITARY MEMBERS.  THE
DAILY STRUGGLES AND SACRIFICES THAT CHILDREN OF SERVICEMEMBERS MAKE
OFTEN GO UNNOTICED.  THESE CHILDREN SHARE THE BURDEN OF PROTECTING
OUR NATION AND ARE, RIGHTFULLY, A SOURCE OF PRIDE AND HONOR TO ALL
AMERICANS.
WE APPLAUD MILITARY FAMILIES AND THEIR CHILDREN FOR THE DAILY
SACRIFICES THEY MAKE AND THE CHALLENGES THEY OVERCOME.
3.  THE MARINE CORPS REMAINS STEADFAST IN ITS COMMITMENT TO PROTECT
OUR YOUTH FROM ABUSE AND NEGLECT.  OUR PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES FOCUS
ON THE WELL-BEING OF OUR CHILDREN WHO DEPEND ON THEM IN THE FACE OF
CURRENT WARTIME DEMANDS ON MILITARY FAMILIES.  OUR YOUNGEST FAMILY
MEMBERS ARE AT PARTICULAR RISK OF HARM WHEN A PARENT IS UNAWARE OF
APPROPRIATE METHODS FOR MANAGING THE STRESS OF COPING WITH THEIR
NEEDS.  THIS YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE'S 2007 CAMPAIGN TO
PREVENT SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME (SBS) WILL BE LAUNCHED IN CONJUNCTION
WITH CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.  INSTALLATION FAMILY ADVOCACY
PROGRAM MANAGERS AND MEDICAL TREATMENT FACILITIES WILL RECEIVE SBS
TOOLKITS TO PROMOTE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION OF SBS.  EDUCATIONAL
MATERIALS WILL INCLUDE THE "HAVE A PLAN" AND "PORTRAIT OF A PROMISE"
DVDS.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS WILL AIR ON ARMED FORCES RADIO AND
TELEVISION SERVICE THROUGHOUT DOD.  INFORMATION AND RESOURCE MATERIAL
ON SBS ARE AVAILABLE ATWWW.MILITARYHOMEFRONT.DOD.MIL/FAP/SBS.
4.  INSTALLATION COMMANDERS AND MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES PROGRAM
MANAGERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SPONSOR SPECIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH
TO HONOR MILITARY CHILDREN.  THESE EVENTS SHOULD PROMOTE THE
AVAILABILITY AND QUALITY OF OUR CHILDREN, YOUTH AND TEEN PROGRAMS AND FAMILY
ADVOCACY PREVENTION SERVICES.  APRIL'S CAMPAIGNS SERVE AS AN ANNUAL REMINDER
FOR OUR MILITARY FAMILIES THAT MANY SUPPORTIVE RESOURCES EXIST.  WE SHOULD
CONTINUE TO BUILD ON OUR EFFORTS TO CREATE SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS
THAT ALLOW OUR CHILDREN TO THRIVE AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL.//