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May 25th is National Missing Children's Day!
Our original Back-to-School SMART-Kid™ Project, ages 6-13, was launched in September 2005.
Our SMART-Kid™ Jr. Project, ages 3-6, was launched in June 2006, and we are now offering this potentially life-saving safety training to teens, ages 13-18. The focus of our new SMART-Kid™ Sr. Project will be on Internet safety, and relationships.
All parents and their children are encouraged to attend these free safety and stalking awareness trainings throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire communities.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, most children are abducted by someone they know. They also estimate there are 4,600 stranger abductions each year. In light of this information and recent events, we have become increasingly aware that most of these children were stalked prior to being abducted.
For example, there is the abduction of Shasta and Dylan Groene. This convicted sex offender bragged about stalking them for weeks prior to allegedly abducting them, and how he used night-vision goggles to learn the layout of their house.
We believe by providing parents with this important information, we can give them some insight, in order to help their children better protect themselves, as well as teaching the child to trust their instincts, hopefully preventing future abductions. Children need to learn how to be safe, and we can help them do that.
Our project stands for Safety, Monitor, Awareness, React and Tell. Each of these very important topics will be covered, in order to help parents and their children communicate more effectively. We will review our safety rules with the children, and reinforce them with a safety coloring book, stickers and pencils. We do express the seriousness of these possible situations, but our goal is to educate the children not to frighten them. Parents will receive an information folder, as well as, a child identification kit.
We are collaborating our efforts with several martial arts studios, in order to offer quick and easy self-defense techniques and role-play with the children. The instructors are available to answer any questions regarding self-defense. Our SMART-Kid™ Project safety and stalking awareness trainings are now sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Hudson, New Hampshire.
For additional information, or to schedule a FREE safety training, please contact us at (603) 889-1110 or e-mail info@feelsafeagain.org. All parents are encouraged to attend this potentially life-saving event!
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*** Our new SMART-Kid™ Sr. (ages 13-18) was launched August 2007! ***
All safety trainings are given in an age appropriate manner in which the children can understand.
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New Sex Offender Law
The Adam Walsh Child Protection And Safety Act Of 2006
Of the 550,000 registered sex offenders nationally, the whereabouts of at least 100,000 are currently unknown. The Adam Walsh Act creates stricter requirements for sex offenders registration -- to prevent offenders from slipping through the cracks and hurting our children.
One of the most important features of the bill is the creation of a national sex offender registry that will be available on the Internet. The legislation also calls for stricter prison sentences for offenders who fail to register and keep their information current. The offender will be assigned to one of three tiers; the worst offenders will have to check-in more frequently, and all offenders will have to register in person.
Some highlights of the bill:
* Establishes a comprehensive national system for the registration of sex offenders
* Establishes three tiers of sex offenders
* Requires all jurisdictions to enact criminal penalties for sex offenders who fail to comply with registration requirements
* Requires sex offenders to appear in person to verify their registration
* Imposes a fine and/or term of imprisonment for up to 20 years on sex offenders who knowingly fail to register
* Makes registration as a sex offender a mandatory condition of probation and supervised release
* Eliminates the statue of limitations for prosecutions of child abduction and felony sex offenses against children
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Child Abduction Resources
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Dru's Voice
Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation
Finding Molly Bish
Search And Rescue Association (SARA)
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