Final Young Alert And Aware 2004 Cprs Conf

City of Manhattan Beach Child Safety Program YOUNG, ALERT AND AWARE Mr. Idris J. Al-Oboudi Recreation Manager [email_address] (CPRS 2004 Conference Program Chair) Cameron Harding, Recreation Coordinator Joyce Fahey, Council Member Linda Reeves, Presenter Al Johnson, Creator and Founder of Young, Alert and Aware Programs

INTRODUCTION

Manhattan Beach Parks & Recreation Vision Statement: “We create community and quality of life through people, parks and recreation

The effectiveness of Stranger Danger and Young, Alert and Aware in our community have lead us to educate and encourage other cities to take similar action

BE PRO-ACTIVE “Pay now or pay later”/Stop Problems Before they Arise

VIP & DEPT Mission Statement: ·

Strengthen Community Image and Sense of Place.

· Support Economic Development

· Strengthen Safety and Security

· Promote Health and Wellness

· Foster Human Development

· Increase Cultural Unity

· Protect Environmental Resources

· Facilitate Community Problem Solving

· Provide Recreational Experiences

Implementation Strategies

Communicating the Vision

Forming Partnerships

Expanding Professional Competencies

Strengthening the Park and Recreation Ethic

Demonstrating Results

Documenting Best Practices

Impacting Public Policy

Expanding Resources

Awareness and Safety Training for Parents and Children

Welcome Joyce Fahey, Council Member City of Manhattan Beach

Retired Judge, Los Angeles Court

Assistant United States Attorney

Chief, Major Crimes Division

Chair, Southern California Child Exploitation Task Force

Commissioner, L.A. County Commission on Children and Families

Commissioner, L.A. County Children’s Planning Council

Linda Reeves Community Volunteer

Program Goals Heighten Awareness as Parents Provide tools to conduct meaningful dialogue with children in a non-threatening, child-friendly manner Give children the tools they need to help them avoid dangerous situations and to get out of them if they can’t be avoided

Safety Check List Program Local PD Phone Number into your Cell Phones Develop a Stranger Danger plan with your family Role Play, Role Play, Role Play Always carry a disposable camera with you to take pictures of suspects and their vehicles If you see something wrong – speak up! Help your friends prepare for Stranger Danger Talk to your children about “Instinct”

Common Myths Myth #1: It won’t happen here According to the National Crime Information Center, 2,200 children are reported missing each day of the year In a one year period there were: 114,000 “attempted” non-family abductions 3,200 non-family abductions 354,000 family abductions The average victim of abduction and murder is an approx. 11-year old girl who is described as a “low-risk”, “average” child with a stable family relationship and has initial contact with the abductor within a quarter mile of her home.

Common Myths Manhattan Beach 7 Redondo Beach 48 Hermosa Beach 13 Gardena 115 Torrance 144 Myth #2: Registered Sex Offenders Do Not Recognize City Limits Rancho Palos Verdes 5 Palos Verdes Estates 6 Lawndale 59 Hawthorne 128 El Segundo 7

Common Myths What frightens children is the unknown. Children often become paralyzed with fear when they feel they have lost control Giving children the tools to avoid becoming one of those children can also remove parent’s fears Myth #3: Children will become frightened if we tell them about this A straightforward explanation to them without any details can remove that fear

Program Description PART ONE: 45-minutes - Parent Education Q&A PART TWO: 45-minutes - Interactive Education for Children Role Play/Skits Ages 4-10 years

Kid’s Newsletter Copyrighted 2004

Program Creation Local City Council Public Safety Commission Local Police Crime Prevention Program Parks and Recreation Department Contact Manhattan Beach Team for Assistance OR To Conduct a Presentation Sources of Support

Manhattan Beach Team Linda Reeves lreeves@intelity . com (310) 318-6721 Joyce Fahey jfahey1@juno . com (310) 200-2845

THANK YOU THANK YOU Please fill out the evaluation forms

YOUNG, ALERT AND AWARE PROGRAM

BACKGROUND & QUALIFICATIONS

17 years teaching Special Education

Currently Resource Specialist at middle school

30 years experience in Tang Soo Do, Korean Karate (Master of the Martial Arts)

Creator and Founder of Young, Alert & Aware

PROGRAM HISTORY

18 years

Police Agency Recommended

All Encompassing

Interactive and Fun to Learn

Successful

Vital Life Skills

NEGATIVE FORCES THAT CHILDREN FACE

Child Abuse

Molestations

Sexual abuse by adults and other children

Drug and alcohol abuse

Bullies and extreme peer pressure

Gunfire at or around school

Kidnappings – at gun point, knife or other aggressive intimidation

Smoking

STATISTICS:PARENTAL CONCERNS

The rate of crimes against people including battery and sexual offenses have increased 17% last year in California

Prevalence of different crimes by grade levels-but in middle school and increasingly elementary school, crimes against fellow students are most frequent

At many schools where the racial makeup is mixed, there are understanding and tolerance problems lurking that create tension

DO CHILDREN POSSESS VITAL LIFE SKILLS?

95% of all children DO NOT possess the Vital Life Skills that the Young, Alert and Aware Program imparts……..why???

Children know very little beyond the basics: don’t talk to strangers, just say “NO”, yell for help, don’t get into cars with strangers or accept gifts from them, just run

THESE ARE NOT ENOUGH TO KEEP THE CHILD AS SAFE AND AWARE AS THEY MUST BE

WHAT IS COMPRISED IN YAA?

Young = Child’s chronological age

Alert = Physical fitness of the child

Aware = Mental fitness of the child

BODY LANGUAGE

Its importance to the child’s safety

At what age can children be taught body language?

Its importance to adult safety

EMERGENCY RUNNING SKILLS

Six important running skills

Effective diversions while running

REALISTIC PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SELF DEFENSE SKILLS

Importance of Hip movement as it creates power (mass x acceleration = force)

Hammer fist

Spear Hand

ADDITIONAL AWARENESS SKILLS CHILDREN WILL LEARN

Keen environmental Awareness Skills Training

Proper Physical Fitness (to music)

The Stop Sign Technique-when threatened

Street Diversions when in danger

How to effectively handle bullies

The Latchkey Child and their safety

Safety, Awareness and Self Confidence Poetry

ADDITIONAL AWARENESS SKILLS

Weapons and children’s safety

Identification skills training

Meditation skills training

The 3 R’s and How they apply to a child’s safety

SIC Acronym and it’s importance

Touches

CHILDREN’S TESTIMONIALS HAVING TAKEN THE 8 WEEK PROGRAM

“ I learned to be safe. I did not feel safe until I had this class” – Alexis, age 8

“ I feel safer now that I know much more about awareness and other things” – Danielle, Age 9

“ I thought this class was very good. It taught me a lot. Now I’m aware of what is going on around me. Now I feel comfortable walking down the street from school knowing if something happens, I know what to do. Thank you very much” – Dhyana Morris, Age 11

“ I think the Alert and Aware Program was fun and I learned a lot from it. I feel safer now when I roller blade in my neighborhood. I was nervous at first when I came and I didn’t have a lot of energy but when I got familiar with the program I got more confident and got more energy. I like it very much. Thank you Mr. Johnson” – Kelly Fox, Age 11

“ The class was really great. Now I have become more aware of the people around me. I feel that the class was a good experience. Learning the moves were fun. Now I know what to do if I am in danger. This was a great and fun. I’ll probably remember this all my life” – Tricia Tokubo, Age 11

“ The Young, Alert and Aware program taught me how the bully or kidnapper thinks and how to backfire their element of surprise. It also taught me how to react to very important and threatening situations” – Lance Jung, Age 12

“ I used to be really scared of kidnappers coming in the night. Now I have learned what to do if it happens. I really like this class” – Jennifer, Age 8

“ After the last week of the self awareness class I have seen myself improve. I learned or improved my skills in this class. A lot of stuff I saw in the video I wasn’t old enough to do, so next year I might come again.”

Sincerely,

Jared Padilla, Age 12

TEACHER CERTIFICATION

Mr. Johnson will train and certify interested staff to teach the Young, Alert and Aware Program (fee to be determined according to enrollment)

Young, Alert and Aware techniques and training can and should be reinforced in the classroom during the normal school day

Teachers will have access to YAA books, music, videos, poetry and workbooks to enhance Young, Alert and Aware skills as well as academic reading, writing and oral communication skills