R 051517Z APR 13
UNCLASSIFIED/
MARADMIN 190/13
MSGID/GENADMIN,USMTF,2007/CMC WASHINGTON DC MRA MF(UC)/F002//
SUBJ/NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH//
POC/PAULETTE HUBBERT/CIV/UNIT:MFC-2/-/TEL:703-784-9556//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.  THE MARINE CORPS THEME THIS YEAR IS "PROTECTING OUR FUTURE MARINES." EVERYONE HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO END CHILD ABUSE AND CELEBRATE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND PERSONAL SACRIFICES OUR CHILDREN MAKE TO THE CORPS.  DURING APRIL, INSTALLATIONS SHOULD PROMOTE ACTIVITIES THAT CREATIVELY FOCUS EFFORTS TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE AND ENRICH THEIR DEVELOPMENT.
2.  PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY AND SHOULD 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 FAMILY ADVOCACY PROGRAM (FAP) OFFICES AND MILITARY ONESOURCE(WWW.MILITARYONESOURCE.COM (1-800-342-9647) STAND 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 NOT EXCLUSIVE TO THE MONTH OF APRIL.  KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE IS EVERYONE'S RESPONSIBILITY AT ALL TIMES.  CHILDREN WHO ARE LOVED AND NURTURED TODAY BECOME TOMORROW'S HEALTHY ADULTS.  TOGETHER, WE CAN AND WILL PREVENT CHILD ABUSE.
4.  RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY BGEN R. F. HEDELUND, DIRECTOR, MARINE AND FAMILY PROGRAMS DIVISION.//