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November 08, 2004
County Announces New Program To Protect Children
White Plains, NY - Westchester County announced that it will begin offering schools, PTAs and community groups free lectures designed to help parents protect their pre-school and elementary school children against child molesters.
The county is kicking off the new program Inoculating Your Children Against Sexual Abuse: What Every Parent Should Know, with a special presentation on Monday, Nov. 8 at 10:30 a.m. at the JCC on the Hudson at 371 S. Broadway in Tarrytown. The county is also sending letters to preschools, elementary schools and community groups asking them to host similar presentations for their parents. The program will also be advertised on Cablevision.
“We are offering this program to schools and community groups because I feel strongly that we should help parents teach their children how to protect themselves," County Executive Andy Spano said. “We teach our children to dial 911 in an emergency and how to get out of a burning building. Doesn’t it make sense to take similar precautions to protect children from those who would harm them? ’’
Several nursery schools have already requested the presentation so it can be used as part of their in-house training for teachers.
The program, taught by educator Norman E. Friedman, is part of the County Executive’s Protect the Kids initiative. As part of Protect the Kids, Spano appointed a committee of experts -- judges, lawyers, criminal justice, social services, and mental health professionals -- to recommend ways to end inconsistencies in the way sex offenders are sentenced and monitored. The advisory group also acts as advocates for child victims.
Friedman, former director of Hawthorne-Cedar Knolls, teacher, counselor and mental health professional, is a member of the Protect the Kids Committee and volunteered to conduct the presentations for the county free of charge.
During the 45-minute presentation, Friedman shows parents a non-threatening, common-sense approach to teaching their children about their bodies, and provides age-appropriate lessons and rules for them to follow.
Friedman said he was happy to be able to volunteer his time to work with parents on behalf of the county. “I am grateful that Westchester County is giving me this opportunity to reach parents,’’ he said. “I have done this presentation for parents many times and parents tell me that they are surprised at how easy it is and how well it works.’’
During the past 20 years, Mr. Friedman has specialized in child abuse prevention, acting as a consultant to schools and camps throughout Westchester and beyond. He has made presentations on child sexual abuse at dozens of public and private schools, and has advised staff at more than 350 summer camps since 1999.
Frank Hassid, director of the JCC on the Hudson, said that the J was excited about hosting the first “Inoculating our Children” workshop as part of the county’s Protect the Kids program.
“This is a very valuable program and we are proud to be able to offer it to parents at the JCC,” said Hassid. “It truly is something that every parent should know.’’
Spano said that the county hopes to present the program to parents and teachers throughout Westchester. The program will also be available on videotape.
Posted by Nealus at November 8, 2004 10:22 PM
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