SR 642 — SHAKEN BABY AWARENESS WEEK

*LRB09621256KXB37119r* SR064209600SR0642 Enrolled LRB096 21256 KXB 37119 r SENATE RESOLUTION WHEREAS,NO. The month of April has been designated "National Child Abuse Prevention Month" as an annual tradition that was initiated in 1979 by former President Jimmy Carter;

642 WHEREAS, The month of April has been designated "National Child Abuse Prevention Month" as an annual tradition that was initiated in 1979 by former President Jimmy Carter;

and SR064209600SR0642 Enrolled -2- LRB096 21256 KXB 37119 r WHEREAS, A 2003 report in the Journal of the American Medical Association estimates that, in the United States, an average of 300 children will die each year, and 600 to 1,200 more will be injured, of whom two-thirds will be babies or infants under one year in age, as a result of Shaken Baby Syndrome, with many cases resulting in severe and permanent disabilities;

and WHEREAS, Prevention programs have demonstrated that educating new parents about the danger of shaking young children and how they can help protect their child from injury SR064209600SR0642 Enrolled -3- LRB096 21256 KXB 37119 r can bring about a significant reduction in the number of cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome;

and WHEREAS, Child abuse prevention programs and "National Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week" are supported by the National Shaken Baby Coalition, the National Center on Shaken SR064209600SR0642 Enrolled -4- LRB096 21256 KXB 37119 r Baby Syndrome, the Children's Defense Fund, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Child Welfare League of America, Prevent Child Abuse America, the National Child Abuse Coalition, the National Exchange Club Foundation, the American Humane Association, the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children, the Arc of the United States, the Association of University Centers on Disabilities, Children's Healthcare is a Legal Duty, Family Partnership, Family Voices, National Alliance of Children's Trust and Prevention Funds, United Cerebral Palsy, the National Association of Children's Hospitals and related institutions, Never Shake a Baby Arizona/Prevent Child Abuse Arizona, the Center for Child Protection and Family Support, and many other organizations;

therefore, be it RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that in honor of survivors of Shaken Baby Syndrome like Kristina Simmons of Decatur, non-survivors like Taylor Nicole (Pinkas) Rogers of EdwardsvilleEdwardsville, and Reagan Williams of Danville, and Brynden Tyler Gibson of Herrin, and in honor of all the other precious children that did or did not survive, we hereby designate April 19-25, 2010, as "Shaken Baby Syndrome Awareness Week" in the State of Illinois;

and be it further RESOLVED, That we commend those hospitals, child care 09600SR0642 Enrolled -5- LRB096 21256 KXB 37119 r councils, schools, and other organizations that are working to SR0642 -5- LRB096 21256 KXB 37119 r increase awareness of the danger of shaking young children and educate parents and caregivers as to how they can help protect children from such injuries;