SENATE MEMORIAL 26

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2011

INTRODUCED BY

Mary Jane M. Garcia

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING THE FIRST WEEK OF JULY 2011 AS "CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION WEEK" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, child abuse is a serious problem, inflicting emotional and physical harm on the state's most cherished and valuable resources and residents; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico law defines an abused child as one "who has suffered or is at risk of suffering serious harm because of the action or inaction of the child's parent, guardian or custodian" and

     WHEREAS, an estimated thirty thousand reports of child abuse and neglect are made each year in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, every child deserves a nurturing family and a safe environment, free from fear, abuse and neglect; and

     WHEREAS, parents, guardians, relatives and neighbors all share a responsibility to prevent the devastating crime of child abuse; and

     WHEREAS, in order to engage communities in preventing child abuse, awareness about the effects of child abuse must be widely promoted; and

     WHEREAS, a group of elementary school students in Vado, New Mexico, is engaged in the "Future Problem Solver" group, which applies a six-step problem-solving process to identify challenges, an underlying problem, a possible solution to the problem, criteria to evaluate the potential solution and an action plan; and

     WHEREAS, this group of students has been working as a team to address a concern that they believe has negatively impacted their community; and

     WHEREAS, the group has identified child abuse as the problem they wish to address, and their action plan to address this problem is to promote awareness of the effects of child abuse; and

     WHEREAS, the group consists of nine students, namely: Rose Cary, Karina Soriano, Matthew Madrid, Eduardo Soriano, Madalyn Cary, Yvette Holgin, Daisy Arconiega and Cynthia Romero; and

     WHEREAS, the group is seeking legislative support to establish the first week of July 2011 as "Child Abuse Prevention Week" in New Mexico; and

     WHEREAS, the senate has the opportunity through this memorial to participate in this public awareness campaign;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the first week of July 2011 be declared as "Child Abuse Prevention Week" in the senate+; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to each and every student participating in the "Future Problem Solver" group in Vado, New Mexico.

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