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POSITION
STATEMENTS
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POSITION
STATEMENTS
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Prevent Child Abuse America takes an official position on several issues vital to the well-being of our nation's children and families. These statements represent the views of Prevent Child Abuse America on these important matters.
CORPORAL
PUNISHMENT
We oppose the use of corporal punishment in schools and all other institutions
where children are cared for or educated, and we support the use of appropriate
disciplinary alternatives.
VIOLENCE
IN THE MEDIA
We call for the elimination of violence in the media and encourage nonviolent
programming for television, films, video cassettes, radio, and audio recordings.
Additionally, we support efforts to eliminate violent advertising and graphics
from all media.
CAPITOL
PUNISHMENT OF MINORS
We oppose capital punishment, under all circumstances, for children committing
a crime while under the age of eighteen.
GUN CONTROL
Acknowledging that the most dangerous armed aggression against children is committed
with guns, we advocate for immediate gun control legislation.
PHYSICAL
PUNISHMENT
We support the elimination of physical punishment of children and encourage
the education of parents, teachers, and other child caregivers on alternative
forms of discipline.
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
Recognizing that children living in violent homes are frequently victims of
emotional, physical and sexual abuse, we encourage child abuse prevention organizations
to work cooperatively with domestic violence organizations to address both issues.
REPORTING
DATA
We support a federally mandated, national data system on children and families
reported for child abuse and neglect that includes case data on numbers, characteristics,
and child protective service system responses.
USE OF
ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES DURING PREGNANCY
We support the development of programs and educational materials geared toward
preventing mothers from abusing addictive substances during pregnancies.
REPORTING
LAWS
We support and endorse legal mandates to report child abuse.
JUDICIAL
PROCEEDINGS
To accommodate the needs of child witnesses and to prevent further victimization
of children in the courtroom, we promote reforms in judicial proceedings in
criminal and civil cases.
RELIGIOUS
EXEMPTION
In a situation where withholding medical care may be life-threatening or disabling,
the child's rights and interest should take precedence over the rights of the
parents and/or caregivers.
RACISM
AND RACIAL POLARIZATION
We condemn racism in all its forms and advocate for its elimination at all levels
of public and private life.
HOME VISITING
We support the practice of universal, voluntary and comprehensive home visiting
services for all families with newborn babies.
CHILD
CARE
We recognize that high-quality child care programs can mediate factors associated
with child abuse and neglect, including but not limited to stress and social
isolation. Therefore, we believe that such support should be accessible and
affordable to children and families.
THERAPEUTIC
CARE FOR VICTIMS OF ABUSE
In order to break the cycle of child abuse, we support efforts to offer diagnostic,
therapeutic, and remedial services to abuse victims and their families.
EARLY
HOSPITAL DISCHARGE OF MOTHERS AND NEWBORNS
We promote the prenatal discharge of mothers and infants when determined by
a physician who has consulted with the mother, or preferably, with both parents.
We also support the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and
the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists regarding hospital services
for maternal and newborn care.