MBF Child Safety Matters™ Strategies to Prevent Child Bullying and Abuse:

MBF Child Safety Matters™, powered by Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc. (MBF), was recently shown to be an effective and quality program that empowers children with the knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to unsafe situations, according to an independent study conducted by Florida State University's (FSU) School of Teacher Education. The evaluation took place from January through July 2015 and was approved by the FSU Institutional Review Board.

Specific findings from the independent study of MBF Child Safety Matters™ include:

• 620 kindergarten through fifth grade students demonstrated 96 percent pre- to post-test gains on student assessments, which shows MBF Child Safety Matters™ is successfully educating participants with strategies to prevent all types of child abuse, bullying, cyberbullying and digital abuse.
• Procedural fidelity to the prescribed MBF Child Safety Matters™ curriculum exceeds 90 percent by its facilitators, typically school counselors.  This includes adherence to lesson plans, general guidelines and program language.
• Children respond well to MBF Child Safety Matters™ and facilitators are enthusiastic about using the program.
• Facilitators believe MBF Child Safety Matters™ topics are explained appropriately in the scripts, lesson PowerPoints and other materials, rating average topic coverage and appropriateness at a 4.7 on a scale of 5.

"The program is successful in educating elementary students with strategies to prevent bullying, cyberbullying, digital abuse and all types of child abuse," concluded the researchers in the executive summary of the final report.

Offered at no cost to Florida's public schools, MBF Child Safety Matters™ is a program based on polyvictimization research and best practices, which states, "Implementing a single comprehensive program that teaches universal rules and strategies for preventing all types of victimization is more effective than implementing numerous single-topic programs."  MBF Child Safety Matters™ is designed to address these issues in an age-appropriate manner and with easy and practical lessons and reinforcement materials.

Noted polyvictimization researcher, David Finkelhor, Ph.D., Director, Crimes Against Children Research Center, University of New Hampshire, recently praised the MBF Child Safety Matters™ program and said, "The program is impressive. The important information is well formulated and well presented, developmentally appropriate, and based on good understanding of literature."

The curriculum is designed for students in kindergarten through sixth grades, and will soon expand to include the seventh and eighth grades.  MBF Child Safety Matters™ is supported by state and national experts, leaders and agencies in the education and prevention fields, in addition to aligning with numerous Florida Education Standards, the Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Anti-Bullying Act, and Florida Statute 39.

MBF Child Safety Matters™ is currently approved in 56 of 67 counties in Florida and has trained more than 1,300 school facilitators, reaching more than 1 million students since its inception, however we need to reach more. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, one in four children attending school has been, or will be, exposed to a traumatic event that can affect learning or school behavior.  Childhood trauma is associated with lower grade point averages, higher school absence rates, increased drop-out rates, suspensions and expulsions, as well as reading difficulties.

"The Monique Burr Foundation for Children believes that all children have the right to be safe," said Lynn Layton, executive director of the Monique Burr Foundation for Children.  "The validation that MBF Child Safety Matters™ has received from the Florida State University evaluation, in addition to other credible professional sources, is very exciting and is an affirmation that our program is positively impacting youth. This program should be in every school, because every child deserves to be safe!"

For more information about this critical safety program focusing on bullying and child abuse prevention, visitwww.mbfchildsafetymatters.org.

About the MBF Child Safety Matters™ program, powered by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc. (MBF)

The MBF Child Safety Matters™ program, powered by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc., is a research-based, primary prevention education program, designed to educate and empower elementary and middle school students and all relevant adults with information and strategies to prevent bullying, cyberbullying, digital abuse and all types of child abuse and exploitation. In 2015,Florida State University's School of Teacher Education conducted an independent study of the MBF Child Safety Matters™  program. The study validated that the program's prevention curriculum is effective with 96 percent of students showing a gain in knowledge from the pre- to post-test. The MBF Child Safety Matters™ program is approved for use in 56 out of 67 Florida counties, is provided at no cost to the Florida public schools and is aligned with Florida Education Standards, meets the qualifications of the Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Anti-Bullying Act and Florida Statute 39.

Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc., has trained more than 1,300 facilitators to implement the program, and its safety lessons have reached more than 1 million children.  Every child deserves to be safe.

For more information about the MBF Child Safety Matters™ program, powered by the Monique Burr Foundation for Children, Inc., call (904) 642-0210 or visit www.mbfchildsafetymatters.org.

Source: MBF Child Safety Matters

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

Shreveport, Caddo officers still unable to enforce child safety law:

Bossier City police write tickets for cell phone use in school zones when their Shreveport counterparts cannot

By Sara Machi

 

Shreveport Police's Troy Flores joined traffic patrol because he was run over by a distracted driver as a child

SHREVEPORT, La. -

Shreveport Police's Troy Flores takes his job in SPD's traffic unit seriously because he knows what can happen if he doesn't.

"When I was 9 years old, I was run over by a car."

Now a corporal, Flores spent a year re-learning how to walk and eventually headed toward a life in law enforcement. Yet when Flores and his fellow traffic officers  post up in school zones for traffic enforcement on the first day of school Aug. 11, there's a Louisiana law he has no choice but to ignore.

"They already know it's illegal," Flores said. "Sometimes they need a little reminder that 'Hey, put the cell phone down. It's not that important.'"

Previous article: Cell phones in school zones

Shreveport school zones have speed limit warnings, but no signs about the law banning cell phones in these special areas. Those missing markers are the problem.

The law requires specific signage warning motorists of the ban, and without them an officer's hands are tied, even though this will be the second school year since legislators banned hand-held devices behind the wheel. 

While SPD can't enforce the ban, Bossier City police rolled out their "hands-free zone" signs during the 2014 fall semester.

"We make signs all the time -- street signs -- so when you look at the grand scheme of things, the cost is minimal," Bossier City spokesperson Mark Natale said.

BCPD's only written a handful of tickets for cell phones behind the wheel. Natale attributes the low numbers to officers giving warnings and to awareness.

"We want motorists to pay attention to what they're doing and that's operating a motor vehicle."

Funding is behind most of the cell phone zone confusion. Louisiana DOTD only put up hands-free signs on state roads. Everything else, they left up to individual municipalities.

Bossier City fronted their costs. Bossier Parish Schools and then-Rep. Jeff Thompson, who wrote the bill, split the cost for school zones outside city limits.

When KTBS 3 News contacted Shreveport and Caddo authorities about their missing signs, most people thought the law was being enforced or didn't realize the need for special warning plaques.

City of Shreveport authorities are still getting back to us about whether or not they will pay for the signs. Caddo Commissioners Lyndon Johnson and Matthew Linn indicated they would look into putting sign funds on the next agenda.

Source: http://goo.gl/ZVGEiN

Trinity Mount Ministries

Child safety advocate Marc Klaas on Madyson Middleton:

Child safety advocate Marc Klaas of the Klaas Kids Foundation spoke to Pam Moore about the Madyson Middleton case and how to protect your kids.

Klaas spoke about the reaction of Madysons’ mother and what he thought about her reaction. Klass also mentions how authorities assess the effort to find her after that first 24 hours.

Klaas also mentions what parents can teach their kids about protecting their children if they find themselves in a situation where they are alone or lost.

http://klaaskids.org/ and http://www.pollyklaas.org/

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

Connecticut Child Advocate Finds Urgent Safety Problems At Juvenile Detention Facilities:

The Connecticut Juvenile Training School in Middletown, Connecticut

CREDIT CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

By ASSOCIATED PRESS 

Boys and girls in Connecticut's juvenile detention facilities have been subjected to unlawful and repeated use of isolation and restraints, while officials haven't adequately prevented youths from attempting suicide or injuring themselves, according to a report released Wednesday by the state child advocate.

The months-long investigation by Child Advocate Sarah Eagan's office, which was sparked by whistleblower complaints, found what the report called urgent safety problems at the Connecticut Juvenile Training School for boys and the neighboring Pueblo Unit for girls in Middletown, which are both run by the state Department of Children and Families.

"Right now, conditions at CJTS and Pueblo place many youth at risk of physical and emotional harm,'' the report says.

The report found that isolation and restraints were repeatedly used unlawfully, staff didn't adequately prevent suicide attempts and self-injury, and officials did not meet the needs of youths with significant mental health disorders.

One finding by the investigation was that there were at least 225 documented incidents of isolating juveniles for four hours or longer at the two facilities over one six-month period, including nearly 100 lasting eight hours or longer.

The child advocate's office says national standards for juvenile correctional facilities limit isolation to four hours or less.

The findings are similar to ones noted in a recent report by a juvenile justice expert hired by DCF to review the two juvenile facilities.

DCF, in response to the expert's findings, already has pledged to make a number of improvements, including improving suicide prevention training, eliminating unlawful restraint and seclusion, and improving treatment for juveniles with mental health problems, which also are among the recommendation made by the child advocate's office.

"The priority of DCF remains the well-being of the children in our care,'' the agency said in a statement Wednesday. "We have had a great degree of success and have made progress over the last five years, but we know there is still more work to be done to make sure every child in our care gets the service they need.''

The 135-bed Connecticut Juvenile Training School is the state's only secure facility for boys who have been deemed delinquent and committed to DCF. The 12-bed Pueblo Unit is the state's only detention center for delinquent juvenile girls.

The child advocate's office found a total of more than two dozen documented acts of youths trying to injure or kill themselves at the two centers between June 2014 and February 2015. Agency officials believe there are many more self-harming incidents that are not clearly documented.

For the yearlong period ending July 1 of this year, there were at least 532 physical restraints and 134 uses of mechanical restraints such as handcuffs and shackles, the child advocate's office found.

The child advocate's office said state law requires that restraints be used only to prevent immediate or imminent injury to the person or others, but video tapes and incident reports showed that restraints were repeatedly used for behavior management.

Source: http://goo.gl/yzihzg

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

A year later, child safety seems to be a forgotten issue - Bengaluru (Bangalore), India

Managements have increased fees citing expenditure on CCTV cameras, installing GPS in school buses and other safety measures, but parents feel that safety measures are not up to the mark.

Schools prefer to wait for the child protection policy before “investing” in safety

Exactly a year ago, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) formulated guidelines to be implemented in schools following a spate of sexual assaults on children. However, the situation on the ground has not changed much, as most schools are yet to implement all the guidelines.

Significantly, the comprehensive child protection policy (CPP), which was formulated to collate guidelines issued by multiple departments, is yet to get the government’s nod. A high-level committee under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary V. Umesh was formed to look into child safety and the policy. The policy has been placed before the cabinet, but was sent back several times for corrections, sources said.

Managements have increased fees citing expenditure on CCTV cameras, installing GPS in school buses and other safety measures, but parents feel that safety measures are not up to the mark.

The managements’ defence is that there are multiple guidelines and they would rather wait for the CPP to be finalised before “investing” in safety.

D. Shashikumar, General Secretary of the Associated Managements of Primary and Secondary Schools in Karnataka, said, “The guidelines issued by the police are in the High Court. Besides this, guidelines have been issued by DPI and the Transport Department. However, multiple guidelines tend to be confusing. We would rather wait for the CPP to be finalised.”

In the tussle between managements and the government, parents feel that their child’s safety is forgotten. Parimala S., a parent, feels that most schools have not even done basic things such as setting up parent teacher associations, installation of CCTV cameras in the premises and hiring support staff to accompany children in buses.

The worst of the lot are government schools which have not even issued identity cards for parents, let alone installation of cameras, due to paucity of funds. “Some government schools, which have found donors, have implemented some guidelines but a majority have not initiated any measures,” a teacher from a government school said.

TANU KULKARNI - Source: thehindu.com

Trinity Mount Ministries Website

Number of Missing Children in India

              As per the data provided by National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), on an average less than one lakh children went missing every year since 2011. The details of number of missing children and the number of cases in which the children have remained untraced for the period 2011-2014 and up to April, 2015 is as under:

Sl. No.	Year	Number of missing children	Number of untraced children
1.	2011	90654	34406
2.	2012	65038	26896
3.	2013	77721	41089
4.	2014	73549	31711
5.	2015 (up to April)	15988	6921

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today.

****

Decline in Child Sex Ratio in Tribal population 

 As per the Census 2011, the Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) among Scheduled tribes population has shown a decline from 972 females per 1000 males in 2001 to 957 females per 1000 males in 2011. 

To address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR), in age group of 0-6 years, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme has been launched by Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Scheme is intended to improve Child Sex Ratio across the country with the focussed intervention & Multi-Sectoral Action in 100 gender critical districts including tribal areas. The total project cost of the programme for the 2 years and 6 months is Rs. 199.99 crore with 100% Central Assistance.

Ministry of Tribal Affairs through regional consultations and its meetings has advocated and supported growing and consumption of traditional minor millets, green leafy and traditional vegetable in kitchen garden, rearing backyard poultry, and fishery. In addition, the Ministry has advocated regular administering of Iron Folic Acid tablets and Vitamin A supplements to pregnant women right from their cycle. Documentation of tribal crops and food, tribal medicine and practices to improve health and nutrition issues has also been initiated.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today.

****

Status of recommended amendments in Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 

The National Commission for Women (NCW) had recommended certain amendments in Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961. The major recommendations include:-

i) Amendment to definition of Dowry

ii) Provision for registration of lists of gifts received at the time of marriage.

iii) Provision for separate penalties for giving and taking of dowry.

iv) Penalties for non-maintenance of lists of gifts received at the time of the marriage.

v) Insertion of a new clause providing an opportunity to the woman to file a case at the place where the offence was committed or where she permanently/temporarily resides.

vi) Protection officers appointed under the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 to carry out the duties of the Dowry Prohibition Officers.

In view of the recommendations of NCW, a proposal for amendment in Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 was mooted and draft Cabinet circulated on 14th February, 2013 to concerned Ministries/Department for comments. However, the Ministry has taken a considered view on the matter on 26th November, 2014 and decided to drop the amendment proposed in Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961 in the present form after taking into account of the comments of the High Level Committee on the Status of Women and Ministry of Home Affairs on the matter received on 3rd November, 2014 and 18th November, 2014 respectively.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to a starred question in the Rajya Sabha today.

****

Substance Abuse by street children 

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has not made any estimate about the number of street children in the country. However, a rapid assessment survey of street- involved children carried out by Don Bosco National Forum for the Young at Risk (YaR), New Delhi and Don Bosco Research Centre, Mumbai has come to the notice of the Government of India. As per the aforesaid survey, the number of street- involved children in New Delhi is 69,976.

The Government is taking several measures to prevent substance abuse by children including services for rehabilitation of addicts.

Government of India is implementing the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 which prohibits selling of tobacco products to person below the age of 18 years and in places within 100 metre radius from the outer boundary of an institution of education, which includes school colleges and institutions of higher learning established or recognized by an appropriate authority. Also the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Act, 1985 lays down that a controlled substance shall be sold after the buyer establishes his identity and upon a declaration made about the purpose for which the controlled substance is being purchased.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, namely, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) from 2009-10 for children in difficult circumstances including children who are victims of substance abuse. Under ICPS, financial assistance is provided to State Governments/UT Administrations, inter-alia, for setting up and maintenance of various types of Homes, including, Shelter Homes, Open shelters etc. These Homes provide inter-alia, shelter, food, education, medical attention, vocational training, counseling, etc. to such children so that they can ultimately reintegrate into the mainstream society.

The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment is implementing “Central Sector Scheme of Assistance for Prevention of Alcoholism and Substance (Drug) Abuse” which provides financial assistance to eligible Non-Governmental Organizations, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Urban Local Bodies etc. for running Integrated Rehabilitation Centres for Addicts (IRCAs) to provide composite/integrated services for the rehabilitation of addicts which is inclusive for all sections of the society.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today. 

*****

Malnutrition among children under five years of age 

As per the last National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3 (2005-06) carried out by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, 42.5% of the children under 5 years of age are underweight. However, the provisional India Fact Sheet of the Rapid Survey on Children (RSoC) commissioned by Ministry of Women and Child Development with assistance from UNICEF India has been released. As per these figures, there is a reduction in underweight among children under 5 years of age from 42.5% in NFHS-3 to 29.4% as per RSoC.

As per NFHS-3, the latest nationally representative data, the prevalence of underweight in children under 5 years of age in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan is 37%, 42.4%, 55.9% and 39.9% respectively.

The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations. This Ministry is implementing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA, and Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today. 

Source: http://goo.gl/Sqqy0j

Trinity mount Ministries Website

Wales: New support for runaways in Dyfed-Powys Police force area

Children and young people who run away from home in mid and west Wales are to be given help under a new scheme.

The project in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Powys will see homelessness charity Llamau interviewing and helping children who have been reported missing.

In 2014 there were more than 1,000 reports of missing children with many running away more than once.

The new scheme has been commissioned by Dyfed-Powys Police.

The aim is to identify trends in situations which prompt young people to run away, pinpoint risks during their time away and study the places they go.

In 2014, Dyfed-Powys Police received 1,038 missing reports for 520 children and young people aged under 18.

Missing children reports in 2014

• Carmarthenshire 344
• Ceredigion 148
• Pembrokeshire 259
• Powys 287

Of these, 365 went missing once; 114 two to four times and 25 five to seven times.

There were 16 young people who fled home more than seven times.

Police and Crime Commissioner Christopher Salmon said: "There are many reasons why young people flee their homes, including sexual exploitation.

"We've seen the terrible effects of neglect and official inaction in Yorkshire and Oxford. I want us to tackle the causes to make sure children here are safe from harm."

The service is expected to cost £80,000 to run between July 2015 and March 2018.

Charity Llamau is experienced in helping vulnerable young people

Source: http://goo.gl/rdf3vG

Trinity Mount Ministries Website