'Take 25' Minutes to Talk to Your Kids About Safety

PHOENIX -Every year in America an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing that amounts to roughly 2,200 each day. Fortunately, the vast majority are located quickly. But on May 25, National Missing Childrens Day, we remember the children who are still missing and in their memory, stress the importance of making child protection a national priority. On May 25, representatives from the U.S. Attorneys Office will be handing out information in Phoenix and Tucson. In Downtown Phoenix, a booth will be located at the Renaissance Square Courtyard from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. In Tucson, a booth will be set up at the Tucson Mall near the childrens play area from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m where law enforcement partners will join with representatives from the U.S. Attorneys Office to present child safety information. The Arizona Freemasons will also be at the mall providing free children's identification kits at the event. Each booth will offer informative materials and handouts with suggested safety talking points for parents. The information offers valuable suggestions to help adults to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about safe practices both online and on the streets. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) has created, Take 25", a national child safety campaign designed to encourage parents and guardians to take time to talk to their children about ways to stay safe both online and offline. The U.S. Attorneys Office of Arizona understands that the best defense to child abduction and exploitation is knowledge, and therefore, along with some of its Project Safe Childhood law enforcement partners, has teamed up with the NCMEC for this initiative to educate local schools and parents in hopes of decreasing the number of children that are victimized each year. Today, take 25 minutes to explain to kids in your life the risks of the Internet and how to stay safe both online and offline, said U.S. Attorney Dennis K. Burke. In my office, we vigorously prosecute those who exploit or contribute to the sexual exploitation of children, but we want this never to happen in the first place. That means talk to your kids today and know what theyre doing on and offline. Indian tribes across the Southwest will also be observing Missing Childrens Day by learning about child protection strategies at the Harrahs Ak-Chin Resort, at 15406 Maricopa Rd. in Maricopa, Ariz. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharon Sexton, head of the Violent Crime and Indian Country Section at the U.S. Attorneys Office in Phoenix, will highlight the role of the U.S. Attorneys Office in prosecuting crimes against children in Indian Country. Safety discussions will begin at 4:00 p.m. and the ceremony will be concluded by a traditional blessing and native dance. While the internet opens up a world of possibilities for learning and exploring, it also presents risks, particularly as children have access to the internet and are increasingly web-savvy at younger ages. Approximately 1 in 7 children between the ages of 10 and 17 receive sexual solicitations online. In addition, the developments of sexting and the potential for cyberbullying also pose risks to children. Educating children about internet safety is therefore more important than ever. Arizonas Take 25 Event will offer plenty of ideas and materials in regards to safe internet practices and protection from online predators. We know that teaching children about safety works. Community events play an important role in helping parents understand how they can help save a childs life, Ernie Allen, President and CEO of NCMEC, said. We are very grateful to our local partners who share our interest in keeping children safe. They play an important role in raising public awareness in communities throughout America. In addition, NCMEC encourages parents and guardians to practice good safety measures by following the important safety tips noted below: * Keep an accessible, up-to-date, good-quality photograph of your child in case of an emergency. * Never let young children go places alone. Be clear about the places and homes they may visit. * Know where your children are and whom they are with at all times. * Never leave children unattended in a vehicle, whether its running or not. * Talk openly to your children about safety. Make an outing to a mall or park a teachable moment. ABOUT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN (NCMEC) NCMEC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justices Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. NCMECs Congressionally mandated CyberTipline®, a reporting mechanism for child sexual exploitation, has handled more than 441,000 leads. Since its establishment in 1984, NCMEC has assisted law enforcement with more than 127,000 missing child cases, resulting in the recovery of more than 110,000 children. For more information about NCMEC and the statistics in this release, call its toll-free, 24-hour Hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit www.missingkids.com. For more information about Take 25, visit www.take25.org. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.