RSVP offers child safety files

by Courtesy of Mary Jo Berry
| October 25, 2010 11:36 AM

The Department of Justice reported in 2002 that nearly 800,000 children are reported missing each year. The average victim of abduction is an 11 year old girl who is a “low risk”, “normal” child from a middle class neighborhood. 300,000 children end up being sexually exploited in the fastest growing crime in the world-child trafficking. Child trafficking is the 2nd largest crime, second only to the sale of illegal drugs.

Child trafficking is initiated by moving a child from one place to another where no one knows them and they have no one to depend on except their abuser. Finding abducted and run away youth before they leave the local area is critical. Even in small rural communities, the potential for child trafficking is a growing concern.

The Western Montana RSVP Volunteer Center is offering “Child Safety Files”. These files include photos, movies, voice recognition, description information and digital fingerprints. All information is saved on a CD which is given to a parent or guardian. The software is designed to automatically delete all information once the CD is created so only the parent retains the data.

This information can be used to generate posters and flyers should a child be missing. It can be accessed by law enforcement anywhere in the country and is compatible with Amber Alert.

The equipment to produce these kits was funded by the RAPP Family Foundation and the Assisting Charitable Endeavors Grant. Previous sponsors in Mineral County have been the Mineral County Community Foundation.

Kits will be available for free thanks to our sponsors. Packets have been sent home with three classes from the Superior Elementary School, when those are done we will be sending packets home to the rest of the students. If you are interested and haven’t seen the packet contact Mary Jo Berry, RSVP Coordinator Mineral County at 822-4800. We hope to get into all the schools in Mineral County. If you home school your children, have an elderly family member who wanders, or siblings not yet in school please contact Mary Jo to discuss the Child Safety ID.

Signed parental permission is required to produce a CD.