.
Erin Runnion is the mother
of Samantha Runnion and
the Founding Director of
The Joyful Child Foundation. Erin is dedicated to ensuring
Samantha's tragic death
will continue to be a catalyst
to engage adults in our
collective responsibility to
protect our nation's children. |
|
The Joyful Child Foundation's "Be Safe Guidebook"
by Bill Murray
NAASCA would like to recommend the following, The Joyful Child Foundation "Be Safe Guidebook", as a prevention tool that ought to be shared by everyone interested in child abuse prevention.
Erin Runnion, TJCF's founder, created the non profit to honor the memory of her abducted, abused and murdered child, Samantha. Just 5 years old, Samantha was kidnapped by a man who pulled her into his car .. just steps from her families' home. Her body was discovered the next day.
We are grateful to Erin for appearing as our "Stop Child Abuse Now" talk show's special guest on Wed, Feb. 5, 2014.
Here's a description and direct link to her appearance on Episode 763:
Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 763 -- special guest Erin Runnion -- 2/05/2014
Tonight's special guest is Erin Runnion from Newport Beach, California, founder of The Joyful Child Foundation in Memory of Samantha Runnion, her kidnapped and murdered child. The Joyful Child Foundation is dedicated to preventing crimes against children through programs that educate, empower, and unite families and communities. |
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During the show, Erin explained that her non profit's mission is all about PREVENTION, and recommended the following "Be Safe Guidebook" to anyone who wants to educate themselves about this all-important topic.
Download a PDF copy of the "Be Brave Guidebook" here, and save it to your computer:
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From The "Be Safe Guidebook" Introduction:
The Truth about Sex Crimes and Abduction
It is estimated that one in every five girls and one in ten boys is sexually abused by the end of their
13th year (1 in 3 girls and 1 in 6 boys overall by the age of 18). This is an overwhelming number of
children in need of protection and intervention; but to do this effectively, we first need to understand
child sexual abuse. To help understand the problem of sexual abuse this booklet will discuss multiple
forms of child abuse: neglect, physical, sexual, emotional abuse and abduction as well as how to
prevent them.
Did you know that most children, who are sexually abused, over 90%, are abused by a family
member or close family friend, not a stranger? Stranger danger and stranger abduction, in comparison,
are quite rare.
Every year in this country over 58,000 children are abducted by non-stranger, non-family members
such as neighbors, babysitters, and friends. In addition over 204,000 children are abducted by a
relative, frequently a parent. Fortunately, 99% of missing children are recovered alive within 24 hours.
Over half of all abducted children are abused in some way before being recovered by law enforcement
and their families. According to the FBI’s Crime Index there are an average of 100–125 stranger
abductions every year and approximately 100 children are murdered by predators.
Whether perpetrated by a stranger or non-stranger, abduction is a traumatizing crime but combined
with just over 33% of girls and 16% of boys who are sexually abused by adulthood, we are facing a
devastating social epidemic. Survivors of childhood trauma are significantly more likely to suffer from
physical, emotional, and behavioral disorders that contribute to the cycle of violence in society.
What We Can Do to Protect Our Children
It is at this point that most parents find themselves horrified by the prospect that someone they
trust could violate their children and it is our natural inclination to believe that it could not have
already happened and gone unnoticed. This realization is often followed by disbelief, fear, and even
hopelessness. This handbook is designed to aid you in protecting your children against sexual abuse
and abduction.
A child is abused once every 32 seconds in this nation and you can do something about it!
How many children will you save…?
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Here's what you'll find inside The Joyful Child Foundation's "Be Safe Guidebook"
Introduction
The Truth about Sex Crimes & Abduction ......................................................................................... 2
What We Can Do to Protect Our Children ........................................................................................ 2 |
Statistics of Abuse and Abduction
National .......................................................................................................................................... 3
California ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Miscellaneous ................................................................................................................................. 3
Facts about Sex Offenders ............................................................................................................. 4
Characteristics of Sex Offenders .................................................................................................... 5
Safety Tips from a Convicted Child Molester ................................................................................... 6
Adult Behavior that may Signal Sexual Interest in Children ............................................................ 7
Additional Findings about Sexual Predators ................................................................................... 8 |
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse and Abduction
A Sexual Abuse Prevention Plan: Be A Child’s Hero ........................................................................ 9
Safety Letter ................................................................................................................................. 11
Talking with Your Children about Sexual Abuse ............................................................................ 12
Understanding Sex Offender Registries ........................................................................................ 14
What to do if a Registered Sex Offender Lives in Your Neighborhood ........................................... 15
Child ID Kits .................................................................................................................................. 16 |
If You Think Your Child Has Been Abducted
| What to do (Amber Alert) ............................................................................................................. 19 |
Recognizing Signs of Abuse
Behavioral and Physical Warning Signs That a Child is Being Abused .......................................... 22
Types of Abuse and Symptoms of Abuse
Physical ................................................................................................................................. 23
Sexual ................................................................................................................................... 24
Emotional .............................................................................................................................. 25
Neglect .................................................................................................................................. 26 |
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| Long Term Effects of Child Abuse ................................................................................................. 27 |
Reporting Abuse
Why People Don’t Report ............................................................................................................. 28
How to Report .............................................................................................................................. 28
What Not to do ............................................................................................................................ 28 |
The Internet
Internet Safety ............................................................................................................................ 29
Internet Lingo: What Every Parent Should Know ........................................................................ 31 |
Resources .......................................................................................................................................... 32
References ......................................................................................................................................... 34
About The Joyful Child Foundation ................................................................................................... 35 |
Download a copy of the "Be Brave Guidebook" here, and save it to your computer: The Joyful Child Foundation -- "Be Brave Guidebook" -- PDF file.
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