Month of the Military Child and Child Abuse Prevention Month
This MARADMIN announces that April 2005 is designated as both "Month of the Military Child" and "Child Abuse Prevention Month" in the Marine Corps. It calls on commanders and Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS) to plan celebratory events recognizing military children's contributions and sacrifices, while promoting child abuse prevention programs and coordinated community response efforts.
Issued: March 21, 2005
1. SINCE 1986, THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE HAS DESIGNATED APRIL AS "MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD." WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN SETTING ASIDE THE MONTH TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTIONS AND PERSONAL SACRIFICES OUR CHILDREN MAKE FOR OUR CORPS. 2. INTEGRAL TO RECOGNIZING OUR CHILDREN IS ENSURING THEY GROW UP IN HEALTHY HAPPY HOMES AND STRONG COMMUNITIES. THE NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH THEME, "SAFE CHILDREN AND HEALTHY FAMILIES ARE A SHARED RESPONSIBILITY," IS ALSO PROMOTED DURING APRIL. 3. THE MARINE CORPS HAS ALWAYS UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF SHARED RESPONSIBILITY AND COORDINATED EFFORTS TO BUILD STRONG, SAFE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH CHILDREN CAN THRIVE. COMBINING EFFORTS TO RECOGNIZE THE CONTRIBUTION AND VALUE OF OUR CHILDREN ENCOURAGES COMMUNITIES TO SPONSOR JOINT EVENTS IN CELEBRATION OF THIS SPECIAL MONTH. TOWARD THAT END, MARINE CORPS COMMUNITY SERVICES (MCCS) JOINS WITH COMMANDERS TO: A. PROCLAIM APRIL AS MONTH OF THE MILITARY CHILD AND MARINE CORPS CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH. B. PLAN CELEBRATORY EVENTS TO RECOGNIZE THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FUTURE - OUR CHILDREN. C. INCREASE VISIBILITY OF PREVENTION AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS AVAILABLE THROUGH MCCS PROGRAMS SUCH AS THE NEW PARENT SUPPORT PROGRAM (NPSP), AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTERS. D. SUPPORT COORDINATED COMMUNITY RESPONSE EFFORTS BETWEEN LOCAL AGENCIES, SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, PARENTS, AND MARINE AND FAMILY SERVICES.