THOSE WHO VICTIMIZE CHILDREN ARE USUALLY NOT STRANGERS

By Ernie Allen, President and CEO

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

The recent events at Penn State University and Syracuse University serve as reminders that the sexual abuse and exploitation of children is an all-too-present fact of modern life.  Yet, millions of Americans do not believe that this problem exists at all.  Why?

Overwhelmingly, the child victims do not tell.  Leading scholars and researchers tell us that at least 1 in 5 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually victimized in some way before they reach the age of 18, and just 1 in 3 will tell anybody about it.  These are America’s hidden victims.  We have made progress as a nation in attacking this problem but even today, two out of three child victims suffer in silence.  They don’t tell Mom, they don’t tell Dad, they don’t tell anybody.

Millions doubt the existence of these heinous crimes for another reason.  The offenders do not match society’s stereotype.  Most Americans want to believe that someone who would prey upon a child sexually is evil-looking, a menacing, frightening stranger.

Yet, we have learned that most often those who victimize children are not strangers to the child, they are known to the child.  They seek out legitimate access to the child.  We should never be shocked when someone who abuses a child is a volunteer or employee of a youth-serving organization, or a school, or a daycare center, or many other settings that provide easy, low-risk access to children.  That is why the leading child-serving organizations have taken bold steps to do background screening of their staff and volunteers, and then monitor and supervise the interactions between adults and children.

In monitoring sex offender treatment groups and programs, one hears a chilling word, “grooming.”  Most often, these offenders who prey upon children do not snatch their victims randomly from the streets, they groom their victims, win their confidence and trust through friendship, kindness, and then they violate it.  In so many of these cases, the child is made to feel responsible, like it is his or her fault.  And the child is often intimidated or threatened by this person of trust and authority.

Even if they decide to tell, will anyone listen to them?  Will anyone understand?  These children feel that no one will believe them even if they do speak out, and too many adults simply do not listen to or understand what children try to tell us.

The offenders are not dirty, menacing strangers, they are respectable citizens – doctors, lawyers, businessmen, teachers, police officers.  Often they are people who outwardly show deep and enduring commitment to helping children in need.

What can you do?  What can every citizen do?  First, communicate with your children and empower them.  Make sure that they understand that you love them, trust them, believe them and that if anyone ever touches them in a way that makes them feel uncomfortable, they should tell you or a trusted adult.

Second, the first line of defense is a vigilant public.  If you see it, know about it or suspect it, report it.  Call your local police and then call 1 (800) THE LOST or report it to www.cybertipline.com, at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.

The sexual exploitation of children is not a problem that only happens somewhere else.  It is happening in big cities and small towns across America.  Thousands of children fall victim to sexual exploitation every year.  We need to do more.  Because every child deserves a safe childhood. 

This commentary first appeared in the Opinion Section on FoxNews.com on 12/09/2011

This is COURAGE - YOU NEED TO KNOW WHY. As Educators We are Loosing the Promise of Public Education at the Hands of Very Similar Types of Criminals! Its Happening All over the State.

This is COURAGE - YOU NEED TO KNOW WHY. As Educators We are Loosing the Promise of Public Education at the Hands of Very Similar Types of Criminals! Its Happening All over the State.

Please understand this is a 70+ year-old former U.S. Prosecutor! This man, Dr. Richard I. Fine is my hero and model for my fights to come with Moreno Valley USD which also is one of the most litigated school districts of it's size in the inland empire. For over 20 years the corruption spearheaded by the personalities of the COWARDS and BULLY BOYS RUNNING MVUSD'S HUMAN RESOURCES has rotted the structure of our district.  One of the former HR bully boys participated in felony misuse and theft of public funds as well as an act of agrregious criminal Nepotism as defined in California State Educ. Code. Another, HR thug, a convicted felon used an unregistered pistol firing at a car fleeing his house with his own daughter and her girlfriend inside the car. He was and is still employed and partially running a MVUSD middle school dealing with children daily, in spite his extraordinarily explosive temper. The current HR coward is mentioned as helping to cover up directly or indirectly the theft of  or miss use of  student funds that totals in the multiple $100,000s in cash  EVERY YEAR.


The man most responsible for this system wide cover-up, a man who lied more than once to me when I was looking for help with the apparent criminal activity I stumbled upon, was fired early this year then allowed to stay on with a double demotion to assistant principal. The Board was afraid that out and out firing would tempt him to tell all. 


Due to years of cover up i.e. elimination of positions with the power of oversight by some of the Superintendents and their assistants, including Bob Crank who was one of the key players, most area taxpayers are paying twice over for there child's education without knowing and some of that money is stolen in cash! Watch for the documentation and names to come.  BUT lets not forget the School Board who hires these people, among which contains a documented CHILD MOLESTER (who as part of his duties regularly visits elementary schools unescorted) and a yet to be charged; a criminal who used the power of the office for... well, come back and see. Another is on the payroll of a local Developer and member of the shadowy Jewish "Gold Trust" and its silent charter. An organization and individual who's home is somewhere in Beverly Bills, CA. I have fired off a letter to the Jewish Defense League* asking point blank if they are associated... 

Folks I lack the imagination to make this stuff up. I was as disbelieving as you probably are. Worse yet, there is more than eluded to herein.


Sincerely,
I praetorian

*The Jewish Defense League or JDL is a Jewish nationalist and far-right organization whose stated goal is to "protect Jews from antisemitism by whatever means necessary".^[1] While the group asserts that it "unequivocally condemns terrorism", and claims to have a "strict no-tolerance policy against terrorism and other felonious acts,"^[2] it was described as "a right-wing terrorist group" by the Federal Bureau of Investigation^[3] in 2001, and as a hate group involved in "anti-Arab terrorism" by the Southern Poverty Law Center.^[4] According to the FBI, the JDL has been involved in plotting terrorist attacks within the United States.^{[3] Outside the FBI, the}  Anti-Defamation League (ADL)^[2] and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).^[3 are the largest watch dog organizations monitoring hate groups in the U.S.  

This is the FIGHT of our Professional Careers. Are You In or Out? 

"Hell has a special level for those who sit by idly during times of great crisis."

Robert Kennedy

School Counseling Videocast: 
 The Silent Suffering of Too Many Teenage Girls

DEAR PARENTS... 

TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL!

THIS idea... it's a damn GOOD ONE

I don't who came up with this idea... but it's a damn GOOD ONE!

Officials in Moreno Valley USD hope all students will take advantage of the free breakfast program that starts Tuesday at all 37 school sites in the Moreno Valley Unified District.

“A well-nourished child is one ready to learn,” said Carla Lyder, the district’s assistant director of nutrition services. “Our goal is to provide good food as part of the equation to support education. ”Ideally, she wants every one of the district’s 36,000 students to try the daily, no-cost breakfasts, which include waffles, pancakes, sausages, muffins, fruit, French toast, bagels and low-sugar cereals.

Research has linked school breakfast programs with higher test scores and grades, improved attendance and fewer referrals to school nurses. In California, evidence is mostly anecdotal. Some districts have begun to document the changes in student performances that follow school breakfasts.

About 56 percent of California students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, but less than one-third of those eligible take part in school breakfasts.

Missed meals mean missed money for cash-strapped districts. Statewide, they would have received an additional $350 million in federal meal reimbursements if school breakfast participation were as high as lunch participation. For districts hobbled by budget cuts, the reimbursements are critical.

In Moreno Valley Unified, breakfast participation is only one-third of that for the lunch program, which draws 22,000 to 25,000 students a day.

The social stigma, difficulty getting to school early and dependence on a parent’s work schedule are deterrents to school breakfasts, Lyder said. What’s more, each school’s breakfast times are different, some starting at 6:15, others at 8:20.

The district projects the free meal will increase breakfast participation a minimum of 10 to 15 percent. The nutrition department will order food week to week and buy more as numbers rise, Lyder said.The district won’t touch its reserves or general fund, but will re-invest money from the low-cost eligibility program to pay for the universal breakfast, according to Lyder. A computer program is in place to daily track breakfast eaters at each site, she said.


Ms. Lyder is right. It not only won't cost the district any extra, but may add to  it's shakey revenue stream. Not only, but it will partially change the socio-economic range of the district which in this case may raise test scores overall. NOT TO MENTION its the right thing to do. IMAGINE!

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