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House Children & Youth Committee unanimously reports resolution designating April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month
Summary
The Pennsylvania House Children & Youth Committee voted 26-0 to report House Resolution 195, which designates April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month and notes support from multiple child-welfare organizations.
The Pennsylvania House Children & Youth Committee on the resolution to designate April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month reported House Resolution 195 out of committee unanimously, 26-0.
Committee staff member Danielle summarized the resolution as designating April 2025 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Pennsylvania and listing supporting organizations including the Pennsylvania Council of Children, Youth, and Family Services; the Pennsylvania Family Support Alliance; Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center; the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania; and the Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children. Danielle said there was “no known opposition.”
Representative Pugh, sponsor of the resolution, told the committee the designation was personal to him because of his work with the Luzerne County Child Advocacy Board and described the centers’ work supporting children who have experienced abuse. "I think we can all agree that child abuse is 1 too many," Representative Pugh said, noting that there were 4,720 sustained cases in Pennsylvania in 2023 and that the Luzerne County center handled 437 cases in 2024. He described an annual pinwheel display on courthouse lawns to represent each child served and said he prefers to call affected children "survivors." "By bringing awareness and bringing this to the attention of the people of Pennsylvania, I hope that we can someday bring an end to child abuse," Representative Pugh said.
There was no substantive debate on the resolution. Committee Chair McNeil called for a roll call vote to report the resolution as committed. Committee clerk Brooke called the roll; the resolution was reported as committed by voice/recorded roll call with a tally of 26 yes, 0 no. The committee minutes list the following members voting yes: Chair McNeil; Representative Spellman; Boyd; Serrato; Curry; Fleming; Ghent; Hamidge; Howard; Kazim (online); Kroejewski; McAndrew; Nelson; Parker; Chair Clunk; Barger; Day; Flick; Hogan; Kozak; McKenzie; Mihalik; Pugh; Schlegel; Walsh; and Zimmerman.
The committee record shows the resolution will be reported as committed with no further action taken at the meeting. Committee staff noted the listed statewide child-welfare organizations as supporters and recorded no formal opposition. With no further business, the committee adjourned.
