AMBER Program Cautions Children
Amber program cautions children Talks teach kids how to avoid dangerous situations By Sally J. Ling Special Correspondent Posted December 10 2006 Guidance counselors from six Wellington elementary schools presented the AmberWatch Foundation's "Be Safe!" program to 35 parents at New Horizons Elementary School in Wellington. The program is designed to educate students how to handle potentially dangerous situations. Rick Jackson, from the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, spoke about computer awareness, said Lynne Bray, New Horizons guidance counselor. "The parents were very positive and appreciated it. It made them aware of being safe with the computers and to be more aware that there are predators that prey on children through their computer," Bray said. "He advised the parents to be very careful with the myspace.com and what the children put on it. It was wonderful. Their eyes were opened." The program also is taught directly to students. About 400 second- and third-graders at Manatee Elementary School west of Boynton Beach gathered in the school cafeteria recently to take part. The program was well received, said Patricia Mangiafico, the assistant principal. "The students loved it and were excited about it," she said. "It reinforced things they already knew and taught them some new things, like the phone etiquette and to say that your parents can't come to the phone . It was very helpful." The foundation is offering "Be Safe!" to the school district at no cost. Last year, it was taught to third-, fourth- and fifth-graders in 21 Palm Beach County elementary schools. This year, it has expanded to 104 elementary schools. "All our school police officers embraced this project, because it was such an important issue for all kids to be aware of, because of abduction issues they may be faced with," said Kim C. Williams, assistant director, Prevention Center, in the Department of Safe Schools for the district. Ezra Dilbert, a Palm Beach County school officer, conducted the program for students in kindergarten through fourth grade at Addison Mizner Elementary School in Boca Raton last April. "They liked it because a lot of them have been put in similar situations. I believe all type of information is power. If you can bring one kid information where they can save themselves, then it's a success," Dilbert said. The expanded Palm Beach County effort this school year is part of the foundation's effort to educate 25 million elementary-age children and their parents by the end of 2008, according to Geoff Haynes, a representative for the foundation. The foundation, based in Newport Beach, Calif., was formed by a father who became alarmed after his daughter went missing during a shopping trip four years ago but was found safe, according to the foundation Web site. "We offer a 45-minute, interactive program conducted by the police covering what-if scenarios. What if a car pulls up and asks you to help them locate a lost puppy? We tell them to run from the car in the opposite direction the car is headed and find a reliable adult to tell," Haynes said. The program, which includes role-playing, such as being home alone and walking to school, has proven to be effective. After attending the program at Grove Park Elementary School in Lake Park, a child avoided a drive-up abduction in Riviera Beach in June, Haynes said. The Riviera Beach Police Department confirmed the attempted kidnapping occurred in the 2600 block of Avenue O. The suspect was accused of trying to lure a child younger than 12 into his vehicle. The child fled and alerted her mother, who followed the man, who then attacked her. A suspect was arrested, according to a police department report. "Be Safe!" uses a three-phase approach to teaching children about abductors and molesters. By teaching the program in schools, distributing literature to spark conversation between parents and children, and disseminating public service announcements nationwide, the foundation hopes to keep children out of harm's way, Haynes said. For more information, call Geoff Haynes at 561-582-0459, the AmberWatch Foundation at 714-968-4821 or go to www.amberwatchfoundation.org. http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/palmbeach/sfl-bb10amberdec10,0,5624907.story?coll=sfl-news-palmcomm