Be vigilant.

I was appalled to learn in the news recently about the girl who had been missing since she was eleven years old who appears to have been held hostage for 18 years in the backyard of a man on parole for sex offenses.

It made me think about all of you who work with children. Fortunately, most employees are screened by the organizations for which they work to see if there are any prior convictions. However, this is often not the case of your neighbor down the street, or family members who come into the schools and child care centers. There is a national registry that can help you to keep children safe. It’s free. You simply put in an address or a name, and it will tell you immediately the individuals who are registered sex offenders. The web site is http://www.familywatchdog.us/

I remember many years ago I was asked to appear as an expert witness for a group investigating a sexual abuse case in a school. They wanted my opinion on whether or not the abuse had occurred. While I was waiting for my turn to speak, I heard another expert witness from that state testify that the average pedophile abuses many children in his or her lifetime. Many are charged, but few are convicted because it becomes it’s so difficult for children to testify on their own behalf. This is complicated many times by the fact that the child may have a relationship with the abuser. Be vigilant. Look for signs of any type of abuse in the children you care for. Your vigilance may help save a child. You make a difference in so many ways for children.

Have a great day.

Maryln