[JAN. 4, 2006]
SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich announced
Tuesday that Illinois schools are now receiving
Child Lures program
materials. The prevention program, launched by the governor in
September, is a nationally recognized initiative that teaches
children, parents and school officials to recognize potential danger
signs and make smart decisions to avoid child predators. Illinois is
the first state to implement the program in schools on a statewide
level.
"Soon, every elementary
and middle school in Illinois will launch the Child Lures program
and focus part of the remaining school year on teaching kids how to
recognize potential dangers and make smart decisions, which will
help them stay safe," Blagojevich said.
The Child Lures prevention
program will be available in each of Illinois' 3,220 elementary and
middle schools. Each school will receive a package with two videos,
one to prepare teachers to present the program and one to present to
children, along with a presenter's handbook and a parent's guide.
In November, Child Lures prevention program creator and child
personal safety expert Ken Wooden visited numerous Illinois schools,
meeting with students, teachers and parents to help usher in the new
program.
The prevention program teaches children life skills to keep them
safe from sexual abuse, date rape, abduction, Internet crime, drugs
and school violence. The school program, which can be taught within
the health curriculum annually, consists of a straightforward
training video and instruction guide with easy-to-follow scripted
lesson plans, practice scenarios, follow-up activities,
comprehension assessment and tools for parental involvement. A
student video with four realistic dramatizations allows students to
clearly visualize just how easily they may be lured into dangerous
situations.
"We know that protection of our children is an utmost
responsibility -- both for parents and school personnel," said Dr.
Randy Dunn, Illinois State Board of Education superintendent. "We
believe that bringing the Illinois Child Lures prevention program to
Illinois schools can help all of us better work together to achieve
that goal."
At least one in five girls and one in 10 boys will be sexually
abused before they turn 18, according to the National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children. The Illinois Department of Children
and Family Services estimates that more than 8,000 children are
sexually abused every year in Illinois.
Child Lures is endorsed by the National Association of Elementary
School Principals and the National Association of Secondary School
Principals and is used by the U.S. State Department's Foreign
Service Institute. While Illinois is the first state to implement
Child Lures in schools statewide, the program is currently used in
more than 1,000 school systems in 43 states.
