CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Gov. Matt Mead has proclaimed April as "Child Abuse Prevention Month."

Mead signed a proclamation Monday at the state Capitol in Cheyenne. He urged everyone in the state to do their part to reduce child abuse and neglect.
Mead says there were 718 cases of child abuse and neglect in the state in 2011 and says the state can obviously do better. He says it's an issue that everyone in the state must address.

Mead says he was passionate about addressing child abuse cases when he served as a state and federal prosecutor.

The governor says the effects of child abuse are similar to a nuclear explosion, where the fallout from the initial incident can linger for years and affect future generations.

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