JULY 25, 2006
JACOB WETTERLING FOUNDATION SPEAKER AT EDEN PARK (BROOKLYN PARK, MN)

I gave three child safety presentations to K-3rd grade, 4-6th grade, and 7-8th grade at the Eden Park Apartments in Brooklyn Park as part of their community education outreach progam. The kids were great and had some really good questions. Unfortunately, child sexual exploitation is the #1 reason why children are abducted in the first place, so it is a delicate but important subject to talk about. Many people think that "strangers" are who abduct kids, when in fact 90% of the time, it is someone that the child already knows at least casually and TRUSTS. The five main points I teach to kids are: 1) Each child is SPECIAL (kids w/ high self-esteem and confidence are less likely to be lured into a dangerous situation), 2) No one has the right to hurt them or touch them in a bad way (I talk about "good touch" versus "bad touch") , 3) If they are being hurt or abused, it is NEVER their fault (many times child predators will tell the child they did something to "deserve it"), 4) If they are being hurt or abused, they need to TELL SOMEONE, and keep on telling until someone listens, and 5) CHECK FIRST! My main advice to parents to talk about staying safe EARLY and OFTEN. If you're interested in learning more, please visit www.jwf.org or feel free to contact me.

PHOTOS:
1) Posing with the youngest group.
2) Acting silly with the kids!