ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGE
 
ROUTINE       
 
R 231929Z MAR 00  ZYB MIN PSN 327967J34
 
FM CNO WASHINGTON DC//N1//
 
TO NAVADMIN
 
UNCLAS  //N01752//
NAVADMIN 066/00
 
MSGID/GENADMIN/PERS-661//
 
SUBJ/CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH - APRIL 2000//
 
RMKS/1.  APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH.  THE
NATIONAL THEME THIS YEAR IS "TEAMING UP TO KEEP KIDS SAFE AT HOME."
CHILD ABUSE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION EFFORTS ARE BEST ACCOMPLISHED
THROUGH THE USE OF POSITIVE AND PROACTIVE APPROACHES IN EDUCATION AND
INFORMATION.
 
2.  CHILD ABUSE INCLUDES PHYSICAL, SEXUAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE, AND
NEGLECT.  IN 1997, THERE WERE MORE THAN THREE MILLION REPORTED CASES
OF CHILD ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES, OVER ONE MILLION OF WHICH WERE
SUBSTANTIATED BY STATE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE AGENCIES.  RESEARCH
HAS INDICATED THAT CHILD ABUSE HAS A LONG-TERM, NEGATIVE IMPACT UPON
A CHILD'S PHYSICAL, INTELLECTUAL, SOCIAL, AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
EARLY IDENTIFICATION AND REPORTING OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE IS AN
IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF OUR EFFORTS TO REDUCE FUTURE HARM AND GAIN
ASSISTANCE FOR NAVY FAMILIES.
 
3.  CHILD ABUSE HAS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON MILITARY READINESS AND GOOD
ORDER AND DISCIPLINE.  COMMANDS SHOULD WORK ON A DAILY BASIS TO
REDUCE CHILD ABUSE BY CREATING A CLIMATE IN WHICH SUCH BEHAVIOR IS
VIEWED AS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.  PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSE IS
PARAMOUNT TO ENSURE THE RIGHT OF EVERY CHILD TO GROW UP IN A SAFE AND
LOVING ENVIRONMENT.  COMMANDS SHOULD TAKE PROMPT ACTION TO HOLD
MEMBERS WHO ARE CONFIRMED CHILD ABUSERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR
ACTIONS.  AT THE SAME TIME, WE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THAT FEW PARENTS
INTENTIONALLY HARM THEIR CHILDREN AND THAT MOST PARENTS CAN OVERCOME
THEIR ABUSIVE WAYS THROUGH THE USE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION, SUPPORT,
AND INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.
 
4.  FAMILY VIOLENCE IN ANY FORM IS UNACCEPTABLE AND INCOMPATIBLE
WITH NAVY'S CORE VALUES OF HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT.  ALL
HANDS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT NATIONAL EFFORTS TO INCREASE
AWARENESS OF CHILD ABUSE AND TO FOSTER COMMUNITY PREVENTION EFFORTS.
NURTURING FAMILY GROWTH TODAY RESULTS IN A STRONGER FAMILY, NAVY,
AND COUNTRY TOMORROW.  TODAY'S CHILDREN ARE TOMORROW'S SAILORS.
 
5.  INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING, REPORTING, AND PREVENTING CHILD
ABUSE CAN BE OBTAINED FROM YOUR INSTALLATION'S FAMILY ADVOCACY
PROGRAM.  OTHER RESOURCES FOR CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION INCLUDE THE
FOLLOWING WEBSITES:  WWW.PREVENTCHILDABUSE.ORG AND
WWW.CALIB.COM/NCCANCH.  THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE HOTLINE FOR CHILD
ABUSE IS 1-800-336-4592.  THE NATIONAL HOTLINE FOR CHILD ABUSE AND
NEGLECT IS 1-800-4A-CHILD.
 
6.  POINT OF CONTACT IN THIS MATTER IS DR. MCDONALD, CHILD ABUSE
CONSULTANT (PERS-661G1), AT (901) 874-4354/DSN 882.
 
7.  RELEASED BY VADM N. R. RYAN, JR., N1.//
 
BT