And of course we stand under God with libertarian justice.

Please remain standing for a moment of silent prayer or reflection.

Thank you, everyone.

Please be seated.

Jared, please take a role.

Here virtually.

She's gonna be a little bit late.

Ms.

McClellan, is the Don Airlines?

Here.

Here.

Here.

Here.

Now we have 13 minutes.

Okay, we'll be getting a proclamation slash certificates.

13883-26.

Hi.

Hi.

Very excited to present this proclamation, really recognizing the importance of child abuse prevention month.

Whereas our children are a most valuable resources and will shape the future of Allegheny County, and it is the responsibility of all members of our community to ensure every child grows up in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment, whereas child abuse and neglect remain serious problems affecting children and families across the nation, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and within Allegheny County, requiring awareness, prevention efforts, and coordinated community actions to protect vulnerable children.

And whereas child abuse can have long-term psychological, emotional, and physical effects that can have lifelong consequences for victims, whereas protective factors such as strong family connections, supportive communities, access to education, health care and safe environments, help reduce the risk of abuse and neglect while promoting the healthy social, emotional, and developmental well-being of children.

And whereas effective child abuse prevention activities succeed because of the meaningful connections and partnerships created between child welfare, education, health, community and faith-based organizations, businesses, and law enforcement agencies.

And whereas the Allegheny County Department of Human Services works with community partners to strengthen families and prevent child abuse through education, outreach, and supportive services that help children and families thrive.

And whereas the blue ribbon campaign, recognized nationally as the symbol for child abuse prevention, serves as the reminder of the importance of protecting children and raising awareness throughout communities during the month of April.

And whereas increasing public awareness and education about child abuse prevention helps foster community culture that values children, supports families, and ensures every child in Allegheny County has the opportunity to grow up in a safe, stable, and nurturing environment.

Now for therefore be it resolved that we Allegheny County Council members, Lisa Gagger Shulman, and Michelle Nagaretti Chapkis do hereby proclaim April 2026 as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Allegheny County, and we urge all citizens to recognize this month by dedicating ourselves to the task of improving the quality of life for all children and families.

And witness whereof we appear to cause the seal of Allegheny County to be a fix this 24th day of March 2026.

Thank you.

Yes.

Good evening.

My name is Joanne Wikowski Smith.

I'm a former uh commissioner with the City of Pittsburgh Youth Commission.

I've been a child uh abuse prevention uh advocate, legal advocate, and child welfare professional for about 30 years.

And I'm here um and I thank um both council members for sponsoring this, was here last year and will be here next year again.

Um, because our children, our babies and toddlers, our children and youth are precious, and they are the most innocent victims of violence and crime.

And it happens in every community in your communities that you represent.

And we must make every effort to collaborate and coordinate efforts for prevention.

The economy is hard.

You know, when children are born, if you have children or grandchildren, nieces, nephews, family members, siblings, they don't come with a handbook when they're born.

There's no instructions.

And life is very hard in our economic situation now.

The basic necessities, we know that it is the stressors that can cause or be a factor in child abuse.

If you can't afford to buy food or diapers or formula, if you don't have supports, if you don't have quality child care, housing, early education, all of these factors play a role in abuse and violence.

So I appreciate all of your efforts to assure funding for all programs.

But also our community partners and programs that help protect our babies and children.

Early intervention is absolutely essential.

We also have Hello Baby, which is a program and resources, so they get diapers and formula and so many programs to reach out.

You're not alone.

But we ask you to raise awareness, not just in the month of April, which is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, but every day.

Every day in our work is to try to keep children babies safe.

I would like to ask council members or anyone here today.

Um April 1st, right across the street in children's court, family court, where our judicial system, our judges and our advocates and um systems work every day to protect children that are in foster care in the system.

April 1st at noon across the street.

I encourage you to come.

Um we're going to kick off the month and have blue pin wills that will be planted over at the court courtyard.

They are a symbol of joy and innocence.

And that's the hope that we have for every child, every baby, everyone to be safe and healthy.

But it starts every day.

Every day we have to advocate.

So thank you so much.