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Adopt and present resolutions proclaiming the month of April 2012 as "Children's Month" in Solano County, commemorating observances for children during the month of April
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Published Notice Required? Yes_____ No__X___
Public Hearing Required? Yes_____ No__X___
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors adopt and present resolutions proclaiming the month of April 2012 as "Children's Month" in Solano County, commemorating observances for children during the month of April as follows:
· Child Abuse Prevention Month
· Month of the Military Child
· National Library Week -- April 8-14 and El Dia de los Libros -- April 30
· Children's Light of Hope Day - April 15
· Children's Memorial Flag Day -- April 27
· Spankout Day -- April 30
SUMMARY:
Community partners across Solano County join together each year in April to promote awareness of children's issues by supporting activities and events raising awareness and/or commemorating children. The Board of Supervisors is being asked to adopt Resolutions proclaiming April as "Children's Month" in Solano County, recognizing Child Abuse Prevention Month and commemorating various children's observances that take place during the month of April. By these actions the Board demonstrates its support for helping to raise awareness of the importance and need for all County residents to support the health, well-being and development of Solano's children and ensure that children have a safe and nurturing environment to reach their full potential and contribute to the safety, stability and strength of Solano's families and communities.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission is sponsoring community events during April with its Community Engagement fund of up to $300 each for 10 or more events celebrating or commemorating children in Solano County during April 2012. Other agencies are sponsoring or co-sponsoring community events for children in this month. There is no cost to the General Fund for April Children's Month.
DISCUSSION:
Each year since 2006, the Solano County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed April to be "Children's Month" in Solano County, in support of the many designated observances related to children's issues that occur in April. In 2012 as in years past, community partners across the County are working together to sponsor a host of public education and community engagement activities to honor children during the month of April 2012. These events are detailed below. In addition, the Solano Children's Alliance, the Board's advisory body on children's issues, is working to bring forth a recommendation that Solano County endorse the Children Now "Children's Agenda for California" and join the statewide "Children's Movement" to support state-level policy development that benefits children and youth.
Children's Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month (Attachment A): to celebrate April 2012 as "Children's Month", First 5 Solano supports small, grassroots community events and activities to raise awareness about young children's issues in cities across the County including activities focused on Child Abuse Prevention Month and Blue Ribbon Campaign. Over 5,777 reports of suspected child abuse or neglect were made from October 2010 to September 2011, to Child Protective Services in Solano County. The Solano County Child Abuse Prevention Council and the Children's Network, along with the Family Resource Center Network and other community partners, sponsor the Solano Blue Ribbon Campaign each April to heighten Solano residents' awareness of child abuse and the need to support families to prevent it.
The Blue Ribbon campaign dates back over twenty years. In the spring of 1989, Bonnie Finney of Norfolk, Virginia tied a blue ribbon to the antenna of her van as a sign to her community of her personal battle against child abuse. Bonnie's three-year-old grandson, Michael "Bubba" Dickenson, had died of injuries inflicted by her daughter's violent boyfriend. In Bonnie's words: "The blue ribbon serves as a constant reminder...to fight for protection for our children. We must protect our most precious gift...our children. Please wear a blue ribbon...put one on your car...give one to your friends...tell them what it means...you may change a child's life." The spirit of the Blue Ribbon Campaign has since spread, and is now honored nationwide during the month of April, Child Abuse Prevention Month.
Children's Light of Hope Day, (April 15), Children's Memorial Flag Day (April 27) and Spankout Day (April 30) (Attachment B):
· Children's Light of Hope Day was established by the National Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Association to recognize and acknowledge the CASA volunteers, foster and adoptive parents who have opened up their hearts and homes to abused and neglected children in our community.
· Children's Memorial Flag Day marks its tenth year in 2012 as a remembrance of all the children whose lives were lost over the past year, but particularly those lost by violence.
· Spankout Day, sponsored locally by the Solano Office of Family Violence Prevention, Health and Social Services, Solano Child Abuse Prevention Council and other partners, draws attention to the harm children may suffer from corporal punishment and promoting non-violent ways of teaching children appropriate behavior.
Month of the Military Child (Attachment C): Since 1986, the U.S. Secretary of Defense has set aside 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 in military families must deal with having their parents deployed, and with the other unique challenges of adapting to their parents military obligations. Despite these challenges, military children remain strong and resilient. In Solano County, Travis Air Force Base will host its annual Absolute Best Early Childhood Development (ABC) Conference and Parent University.
National Library Week (April 10-16) and El Dia de los Libros (April 30) (Attachment D): Solano County Library provides library materials, resources, information, entertainment and life-long learning opportunities to enrich the lives of people of all ages in Solano County. Literacy and reading are the main underpinnings of the service goals of Solano County Library, two themes which are also celebrated during National Library Week. El Día de los Niños/El Día de los Libros emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all cultural and linguistic backgrounds and celebrates children, families and reading.
A calendar of "April Children's Month" community events (Attachment E) will be widely distributed.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board could choose not to adopt the joint resolutions proclaiming April as "Children's Month" in Solano County commemorating observances for children during the month of April. This is not recommended as these declarations encourage and support awareness of children's rights and the availability and need for services for children, their parents and other caregivers in the County.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
First 5 Solano Children and Families Commission, Children's Network of Solano County, Solano County Local Child Care Planning Council, Solano County Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC), Travis Air Force Base, Solano County Licensed Family Child Care Association, Solano County Library, Solano Probation Department/Office of Family Violence Prevention, and Solano Health and Social Services Department/Child Welfare Services have joined together to promote awareness of young children's issues by supporting observances for the many children and families issues commemorated in April of each year. "April Children's Month" activities are being coordinated among numerous local children's agencies and service provider organizations.