Seminar to tell parents about dangers surrounding children
A series of attempted child abductions in Warren County has focused attention on how this type of problem has been proliferating in rural areas, leading several local organizations, educators and law enforcement entities to make an effort to educate the public about this and other very real threats to the welfare of our children.
A special seminar will be held Tuesday, May 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Warren County Middle School auditorium. County commissioner and WCPI radio personality Bill Zechman says it is of vital importance that all parents, grandparents, relatives, friends, educators and caregivers involved with children attend this informative program.
The seminar is a joint effort involving the Warren County Schools Health Services Division, along with school counselors, the Southern Standard, the McMinnville Police Department, the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, District Attorney Dale Potter, the Noon Exchange Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
Called “Signs of the Crimes,” Zechman said the seminar will have three primary areas of focus:
1. Child abduction, particularly stranger abduction.
2. Sex crimes against children, especially those involving career pedophiles.
3. Internet sexual predators and how they are using cyberspace to threaten and lure children in our society with increasing frequency.
Zechman said the program is being offered at no charge as a community service.
“This is a child protective seminar, free to parents, grandparents, caregivers, guardians, anyone who has an interest in protecting the innocents,” Zechman said. “We will have health and law enforcement specialists in all these areas at the seminar.”
Making his second appearance here in Warren County will be Internet predator expert Tom Evans, an investigator for the Knoxville Police Department, who recently presented a well-received seminar at Ben Lomand Telephone.
As part of the school system’s involvement, aspects of the “Child Lures” program used in schools will be included, which should be of particular interest to parents of school age children.
The program will also be broadcast live on WCPI public radio, 91.3 FM. The seminar, and radio broadcast, will deal with some fairly sensitive subject matter, so Zechman recommends parental discretion since the program may be disturbing to younger children. While Zechman says it is important parents discuss these issues with their children for their own protection, organizers realize some parents may wish to do this in their own way.
Though the program has been carefully planned, Zechman emphasized the presentation will be very informal and unstructured.
“Because of time limitations it will be a very compact, very direct, high impact, fast-moving, fast-paced program,” Zechman said. “This is a program every person interested in preventing child abuse in Warren County should attend.”