'Law and Order: SVU' Star, Tamara Tunie Speaks Up for Kids, Asks Congress to Stop Child Abuse Deaths

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths announced that Ms. Tunie is lending her star power to the group's efforts by becoming their official spokesperson.  The Coalition, which includes the National District Attorneys Association, Every Child Matters Education Fund, the National Association of Social Workers, the National Center for Child Death Review, and the National Children's Alliance, is working to make child maltreatment deaths a national political priority.

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According to the Coalition, more than 2,500 U.S. children are killed each year as a result of abuse and neglect.

The relationship between the Coalition and Ms. Tunie began in October 2009 following the release of the report, "We Can Do Better: Child Abuse and Neglect Deaths in America" at a rally on Capitol Hill, where Ms. Tunie was a guest speaker. On "Law and Order, Special Victims Unit," she plays the role of Dr. Melinda Warner, a medical examiner who helps solve fictional crimes about abuse and neglect. Off screen, she's now devoting time to helping real life victims.

Her first action as the official spokesperson is a YouTube Video asking the public to sign a petition urging Congressional leaders to hold hearings to raise awareness and establish a national commission on child abuse deaths.  To sign the petition visit www.endchildabusedeaths.org. Over the next year, Ms. Tunie will participate in and host awareness raising events in select cities on behalf of the Coalition and its mission.  

Ms. Tunie stated, "When Neal Bear, the Executive Producer of Law and Order: SVU, brought this organization to my attention, I had to become involved.  The statistics are shocking! It is my hope that my involvement will bring much needed attention and resources to this problem."

"Ms. Tunie's help in raising awareness about this national tragedy is invaluable.  Preventing child deaths from abuse and neglect can become a common goal for the nation's policymakers, civic leaders and the creative community," says Kimberly Day, Coordinator for the Coalition.

For more information about the National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths and to view the YouTube video visit, endchildabusedeaths.org

About the Members of the Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths:

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) is the largest membership organization of professional social workers in the world, with 145,000 members and 56 chapters. NASW works to enhance the professional growth and development of its members, to create and maintain professional standards, and to advance sound social policies. Contact Joan Zlotnik, [email protected] 

The National Center for Child Death Review (NCCDR) is a resource center for state and local child death review programs. The center provides technical assistance to help teams develop, implement and sustain a prevention-focused CDR process, training, strategic planning and program development for state and local teams, consultation to coordinate with other reviews, including fetal and infant mortality, domestic violence, serious injury, and maternal mortality, support for the network of CDR program leaders. Contact: Teri Covington, [email protected]

The National Children's Alliance (NCA) is a professional membership organization dedicated to helping local communities respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective and efficient – and put the needs of child victims first. National Children's Alliance provides training, support, technical assistance and leadership on a national level to local children's and child advocacy centers and communities responding to reports of child abuse and neglect.  Contact Cori Plotkin, [email protected]

The Every Child Matters Education Fund (ECMEF) was founded in 2002 with the mission to make children's issues a political priority. To that end ECM has promoted the adoption of smart policies for children and youth. These include ensuring that children have access to affordable, comprehensive health care services, expanding early-care and learning opportunities and after-school programs, preventing violence, abuse, maltreatment and fatalities against children in their homes and alleviating child poverty.  Contact, Michael Petit, [email protected]

The National District Attorneys Association (NDAA), founded in 1950, is the oldest and largest professional organization representing criminal prosecutors in the world.  The National Center for Prosecution of Child Abuse (NCPCA), a program of the NDAA was established in 1985. The NCPCA is staffed with professionals involved in the investigation and prosecution of child abuse, exploitation and computer facilitated crimes against children. Contact, Suzanna Tiapula, [email protected]

SOURCE The National Coalition to End Child Abuse Deaths