[Archived] City of Alexandria and Center for Missing & Exploited Children Launch Campaign for Children’s Safety

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 13, 2005
PIO 116-05/rdo

City of Alexandria and Center for Missing & Exploited Children
Launch Campaign for Children’s Safety

The Alexandria City Council and the Alexandria City Public Schools are partnering with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to declare April as “Hand in Hand with Children: Guiding and Protecting” – Alexandria’s Blue Ribbon Campaign– and April 13 as Safety Day.

April is national child abuse prevention month and the City of Alexandria is dedicating all events focused on youth and their parents to the “Blue Ribbon Campaign.” At the April 13 press conference, held at the Charles Houston Recreation Center, two new tools to protect children are being introduced to the Alexandria community.

Leaving My Child Alone: How Old is Old Enoughare new guidelines that will help parents make the right decisions about when and if they can leave their children home alone. “This is particularly important in light of recent events where children alone had to make life or death decisions,” said Councilman Ludwig Gaines, one of the main drivers of the partnership with the City and NCMEC.

NCMEC is also providing internet safety training for children of all ages called Netsmartz. This software will be available for children throughout the day at Charles Houston Recreation Center. The software will also be donated to other recreation centers and parent resource centers in the community.

Mayor William D. Euille stated, “I am very happy about this partnership between the City, the schools and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. This event shows the collaborative energy we as City leaders can lend to support an important cause…our children.”

School Superintendent Rebecca Perry said “I think it is outstanding that NCMEC would donate the time and materials to support this event in our City. I also thank the United States Secret Service for being here to help create ID cards for our youngest residents.”

The month of April will feature daily events sponsored by the Alexandria City Public Schools, the Alexandria Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Activities, the Alexandria Community Services Board, Alexandria Health Department, Office on Women, Department of Human Services, Alexandria Be Safe Coalition- Alexandria Departments of Fire and Police, Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) of Northern Virginia, Network Preschool, the Campagna Center, Tenants and Workers Support Committee, the Alexandria Model Court’s Coalition for Alexandria’s Youngest Children, and many other community organizations.

NCMEC is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization, which serves as a national clearinghouse for information and a resource for child protection. It works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. Since it’s establishment in 1984, NCMEC has assisted law enforcement with more than 98,000 missing child cases, resulting in the recovery of more than 83,000 children. For more information about NCMEC, visit www.missingkids.com or call 1-800-THE-LOST.

# # #