HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2023.09.21 - 40561
September 21, 2023
RESOLUTION #2023-3258 _ 23-139
Sponsored By: Yolanda Smith Charles
Board of Commissioners - Recognizing Child-to-Parent Violence and Abuse and Encouraging
the Michigan Legislature and Governor to Enact Legislation and
Provide Support to Families Suffering from Child-to-Parent Violence and Abuse
Chair and Members of the Board:
WHEREAS there is a form of domestic violence that is virtually unknown, stigmatized and on the rise
throughout the world known as child-to-parent violence and abuse (CPV). CPV is physical and
psychological violence perpetrated by a child that is directed toward a parent or caregiver; and
WHEREAS according to an article by NPR, while research is limited, a 2017 review of the literature
found CPV is widely underreported. Additionally, more recent estimates of the prevalence of CPV
range from 5% to 22% of families, which means several million U.S. families could be affected; and
WHEREAS CPV can affect any family, notwithstanding ethnic background or socioeconomic class.
Studies have shown that CPV is more prevalent toward women and in families headed by single
women; and
WHEREAS when CPV is present in the home, it creates an unsafe and unhealthy living environment,
not only for parents but also for the child, their siblings and other family members, as well; and
WHEREAS a parent experiencing CPV often suffers from emotional, physical and financial hardship,
and often seeks protection from the child he/she is responsible to care for; and
WHEREAS a child with a mental illness or trauma-related behavioral issue is prone to engage in CPV
because the underlying mental illness or behavioral issue can manifest as violence; and
WHEREAS the current state of the public mental health system does not provide adequate support
for parents facing challenges with children with mental illness and CPV; and
WHEREAS while public resources exist for abused disabled adults (Adult Protective Services) and
abused children (Child Protective Services), assistance specifically for parents or caregivers abused
by children are essentially nonexistent. According to the organization Let’s Get Real with Parent Talk,
parents experiencing CPV are not provided the same resources as other domestic violence victims
with regards to legislation, community programs, and clinical, educational, and emotional resources;
and
WHEREAS increasing awareness of the prevalence of CPV, as well as establishing public resources,
outreach and crisis interventions for parents and their families are essential in providing support and
minimizing the harm and frequency of CPV incidents; and
WHEREAS some states and countries have enacted legislation to address the causes and effects of
CPV, such as Florida Senate Bill 1694 and the United Kingdom’s Domestic Abuse Act 2021. Florida
Senate Bill 1694 ensures information regarding available public resources that assist families
experiencing CPV are widely disseminated, and that law enforcement is specially trained in crisis
intervention to effectively intercede in CPV situations. The United Kingdom’s 2021 law provides for
supportive interventions for children and sufferers of CPV and improves the effectiveness of the
justice system in providing protection for victims of CPV; and
WHEREAS assessing current laws, studying CPV, allocating funding and providing support services
and outreach for CPV would greatly benefit Oakland County families suffering in silence with CPV.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners does
hereby recognize that CPV is a matter of public concern and calls upon state and local public health
officials and community partners to bring awareness and provide supportive services to families
suffering from CPV.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners implores the
Michigan Legislature to enact legislation that specifically provides funding for programming and
outreach that supports families and equips mental health and law enforcement professionals with
training and resources to address CPV.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners encourages
Governor Gretchen Whitmer, the Director of Michigan Department of Health and Human Services,
Oakland Community Health Network, local health departments and community partners to create
awareness campaigns and special task forces designed to study, create programming and establish
intervention polices that ultimately reduce the occurrences of CPV.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners declares October
14th as Child to Parent Violence and Abuse Awareness Day.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds is requested to
forward copies of this adopted resolution to the Governor of the State of Michigan, the State Senate
Majority and Minority leaders, the State House Speaker and Minority leader, the members of the
Oakland County delegation to the Michigan Legislature, the Director of the Michigan Department of
Health and Human Services, Oakland Community Health Network, the Director of Oakland County
Health and Human Services, and the Board of Commissioner’s legislative lobbyist.
Chair, the following Commissioners are sponsoring the foregoing Resolution: Yolanda Smith
Charles.
Date: September 21, 2023
David Woodward, Commissioner
Date: September 21, 2023
Lisa Brown, County Clerk / Register of Deeds
COMMITTEE TRACKING
2023-09-14 Full Board - Refer to Legislative Affairs & Government Operations
2023-09-19 Legislative Affairs & Government Operations - Recommend to Board
2023-09-21 Full Board - Adopt
Motioned by Commissioner Charles Cavell seconded by Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles to
adopt the attached Resolution: Recognizing Child-to-Parent Violence and Abuse and Encouraging
the Michigan Legislature and Governor to Enact Legislation and
Provide Support to Families Suffering from Child-to-Parent Violence and Abuse .
Yes: David Woodward, Michael Spisz, Karen Joliat, Kristen Nelson, Christine Long, Robert
Hoffman, Philip Weipert, Gwen Markham, Angela Powell, Marcia Gershenson, Janet Jackson,
Yolanda Smith Charles, Charles Cavell, Brendan Johnson, Ajay Raman (15)
No: None (0)
Abstain: None (0)
Absent: William Miller III, Gary McGillivray, Michael Gingell, Penny Luebs (4)
Passed
ATTACHMENTS
None
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, Lisa Brown, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true
and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on
September 21, 2023, with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Circuit Court at
Pontiac, Michigan on Thursday, September 21, 2023.
Lisa Brown, Oakland County Clerk / Register of Deeds