Romney Press Releases
http://www.mass.gov/Agov2…iew+Summary.pdf
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Governor Mitt Romney today signed legislation to protect infants and children from shaken baby syndrome, a form of child abuse that is the leading cause of injury-related infant death nationwide. Nearly one-third of children who are injured from being shaken die, and those who do survive often suffer lifelong physical and mental damage.
“The victims of shaken baby syndrome are helpless to defend themselves from such violence,” said Romney. “Through better education, we will allow new parents to understand the challenges they face and help them to prevent tragedies before they occur.”
The new law, which takes effect immediately, directs the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Department of Social Services and the Massachusetts Children’s Trust Fund to develop and implement a comprehensive, statewide prevention initiative to reduce death and disability resulting from shaken baby syndrome.
In Massachusetts, the Department of Social Services confirmed 76 cases of shaken baby syndrome from 2001 to 2004. Of these cases, nearly half of the victims were shaken by their biological parents, not by caregivers.
The law adds a program to educate new parents about the dangers of shaken baby syndrome. Parents or guardians of all newborns in Massachusetts will receive, before leaving the hospital, education and materials developed by the Department of Public Health describing the dangers of shaking infants and children.
The law also authorizes the development of a program to support and serve victims of shaken baby syndrome and their families. The victim support program will also help state officials collect additional data to aid future efforts to combat shaken baby syndrome.
“We are grateful to Governor Romney and the Legislature for moving this crucial piece of legislation forward,” said Harry Spence, Commissioner of the Department of Social Services. “With this law, Massachusetts has decided to act to address shaken baby syndrome, the most frequent cause of death and injury among infants and toddlers.”
Over the past four years, the Romney Administration has been aggressive in combating child abuse in the Commonwealth. The Administration approved and implemented the Baby Safe Haven law, which provides mothers of newborns a safe location to surrender infants seven days old or younger as a last resort. The Governor also signed legislation in August of 2006 requiring emergency room personnel to become trained in spotting signs of sexual abuse in children.
