HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 236 Offered January 16, 2008 Commending Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia on the occasion of its 20th anniversary. ---------- Patrons-- Moran, Ebbin and Englin ----------

WHEREAS, in 2008, Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia celebrates 20 years of serving children and families in Northern Virginia through programs and services that keep children safe, strengthen parenting skills, and provide child advocacy; and

WHEREAS, in 1988, David Cleary and a group of Alexandria citizens concerned about abused and neglected children in Northern Virginia came together to plan ways to prevent child abuse; and

WHEREAS, the group founded the nonprofit organization, Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia, with a mission to promote the well-being of children, improve parent-child relations, and prevent child abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, SCAN of Northern Virginia educates the community about the scope, nature, and consequences of child abuse and neglect and the importance of positive, nurturing parents; provides direct parent education; and advocates for children in the community, the legislature, and the court system; and

WHEREAS, SCAN of Northern Virginia reaches the Northern Virginia communities of Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County, and Prince William County and the organization’s programs include Parent Education, Public Education, and Alexandria/Arlington Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA); and

WHEREAS, SCAN of Northern Virginia is affiliated with Prevent Child Abuse Virginia, Prevent Child Abuse America, and the National CASA Association; and

WHEREAS, SCAN of Northern Virginia advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children in the court system, provides public education thoughout Northern Virginia about child abuse and keeping children safe, as well as offers parenting classes to support parents, provide information, and build parenting skills; and

WHEREAS, through its many excellent volunteer efforts and services, SCAN of Northern Virginia has been an invaluable partner of the community to prevent and create awareness of the abuse and neglect of children in Northern Virginia; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly commend and congratulate Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia on the occasion of its 20th anniversary; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Stop Child Abuse Now of Northern Virginia as an expression of the General Assembly’s gratitude to the organization for its commitment to the children and families of the Commonwealth.