Dateline: 08/06/02

Addressing a "wave of horrible violence" from the recent rash of child abductions, President Bush has announced a September White House summit on child safety and released a new child safety handbook for parents and children.

The October 2 summit, held on the campus of the George Washington University in Washington, DC, will bring together members of the President's Cabinet; federal, state and local officials; law enforcement; corporate leaders; citizen experts; parents of victim children; and other leaders involved in the cause of missing, exploited and runaway children.

"During weeks and months we have prayed and worried with parents as their children have been kidnapped in some cases murdered," said President Bush in a Rose Garden address announcing the conference.

According to the White House, the summit will promote public awareness of the cause of missing, exploited and runaway children, and it will bring policy makers, experts, key officials, community leaders, teachers and law enforcement together to share progress made and generate new ideas to help prevent the victimization of children.

Saying that Americans were increasingly learning to recognize the faces of children only because they had become victims of "despicable acts of violence," President Bush referred to the recent cases of 7-year-old Danielle Van Dam and 5-year-old Samantha Runnion, both recently kidnapped and murdered near their California homes.

"Danielle's mother, Brenda, recently exchanged words of comfort with Samantha's mother, Erin, and here's what we said: We had a conversation, mother to mother, about our daughters, our pain, and also our hope that Danielle and Samantha are dancing together in heaven," said Bush.

Each year, more than 58,000 children in the United States are abducted by non-family members, often in connection with another crime. More than 200,000 children are abducted by family members who are seeking to interfere with a parent's custodial rights.

Child Safety Guidebook Released
The President also announced the release of a new guidebook - "Personal Safety for Children: A Guide for Parents." Written in language that children of all ages can understand, the guidebook is designed to help parents take specific steps to improve the safety of their children.

The guidebook is designed to help parents take specific steps to improve the safety of their children, and it includes information that children of all ages can understand.

"The handbook also has practical advice to help families and communities make their homes and their schools and their neighborhoods safer. Children should know a safe place to seek help if they are approached by a stranger on their way to school, or if they're standing at a bus stop," said President Bush.

Among many other tips for children and parents in the guidebook are these tips for parents to help their children stay safe:

Safety at Home

• Children should know their full name, home phone number and how to use the telephone. Post your contact information where your children will see it: office phone number, cell phone, pager, etc.
• Children should have a trusted adult to call if they’re scared or have an emergency.
• Choose babysitters with care. Obtain references from family, friends, and neighbors. Once you have chosen the caregiver, drop in unexpectedly to see how your children are doing. Ask your children how the experience with the caregiver was, and listen carefully to their responses.

Safety in the Neighborhood

• Make a list with your children of their neighborhood boundaries, choosing significant landmarks.
• Interact regularly with your neighbors. Tell your children whose homes they are allowed to visit.
• Don’t drop your children off alone at malls, movie theatres, video arcades, or parks.
• Teach your children that adults should not approach children for help or directions. Tell your children that if they are approached by an adult, they should stay alert because this may be a "trick."
• Never leave children unattended in an automobile. Children should never hitchhike or approach a car when they don’t know and trust the driver.
• Children should never go anywhere with anyone without getting your permission first.

Safety at School

• Be careful when you put your child’s name on clothing, backpacks, lunch boxes or bicycle license plates. If a child’s name is visible, it may put them on a “first name” basis with an abductor.
• Walk the route to and from school with your children, pointing out landmarks and safe places to go if they’re being followed or need help. Make a map with your children showing acceptable routes to school, using main roads and avoiding shortcuts or isolated areas. If your children take a bus, visit the bus stop with them and make sure they know which bus to take.

The entire guidebook in English or in Spanish can be viewed or downloaded (in .pdf format) from http://www.missingkids.com.