Perhaps the most challenging and important role that adults play in society is that of raising children. Every parent and teacher hopes to help children develop into healthy, caring, and intelligent adults. Keeping Kids Safe, Healthy, and Smart is designed for all adults who interact with kids-whether they be parents, teachers, or other caregivers-and provides specific suggestions for keeping children safe from hidden and open dangers wherever they spend time. This book is organized around three different themes of major threats and hidden dangers to children in our country: threats in school spaces (e.g., in classrooms, on buses, on playgrounds, and on sports teams); threats in cyberspace (bullying or harassment and child predators or child pornography), threats in other spaces where children work and play (intrapersonal and interpersonal violence including a wide range of threats such as self-mutilation, accidents, abuse, environmental threats, drugs, and mental illness).

With topics ranging from gun violence, media violence and teen suicide to safety on the Internet and preventing sexual abuse, this book gives essential guidance on what parents can do to protect their children.

The text of a hearing on successful efforts to prevent child abuse and strengthen families is presented in this document. After an opening statement by chairwoman Representative Patricia Schroeder, statements are presented by Representatives Robert E. "Bud" Cramer, Jr., Neil Abercrombie, Blackwell, Gerry Sikorski, Matthew Martinez, Frank Wolf, Lamar S. Smith, Barbara-Rose Collins, and Curt Weldon. Statements and/or prepared materials are included from these individuals: (1) Gail Breakey, director, Hawaii Family Stress Center, Honolulu, Hawaii; (2) David Chadwick, director, Center for Child Protection, Children's Hospital and Health Center, San Diego, California; (3) Anne Cohn Donnelly, executive director, National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, Chicago, Illinois; (4) Wade Horn, commissioner, Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C.; (5) Susan Kelly, program director, Families First, Michigan Department of Social Services, Division of Child and Family Services, Lansing; (6) David Mills, president, National Alliance of Children's Trust and Prevention Funds, Lansing, Michigan; (7) David L. Olds, associate professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York; and (8) Bernard Watson, president and chief executive officer, The William Penn Foundation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (ABL)

Leading family psychologist and personal therapist to Jaycee Dugard, Rebecca Bailey tells parents how to keep their children safe in this accessible, must-have guidebook, with a foreword by Terry Probyn, Jaycee's mother. Whether their children are toddlers or teens, six years old or sixteen, whether they live in a rural town, suburb, or a bustling city, all parents worry about threats—from cyber-bullying to exploitation and abduction. What should they tell their children and when? What practical steps can they take to reduce the risks and keep their kids safe? Dr. Rebecca Bailey, with the assistance of her sister and registered nurse, Elizabeth, gives easily understood, easily followed answers. Safe Kids, Smart Parents builds on Dr. Bailey’s years of experience as a family psychologist helping real families deal with real situations. From abduction to abuse, Bailey explains how parents can speak to their kids about troubling topics while building their self-esteem and teaching them how to protect themselves. A smart, comprehensive, and easy-to-read resource, Safe Kids, Smart Parents is the most important book a parent can own.

Winner of the New England Sociological Association Sociologist of the Year (2008) Life in contemporary American society requires that children spend considerable time in the care of "other people." These people include teachers, coaches, babysitters, camp counselors, ministers, neighbors, friends, and extended family. While most people who work with children do a good job, some caregivers fail to adequately care for kids, while others actually put them in harm's way. Parents may assume that caregivers of all kinds are uniformly evaluated and "approved," but this is not always the case. American society, despite a superficial rhetoric of concern for children, has not instituted strong national, state, or local safety nets to protect them. And because there is no comprehensive commitment to ensure child safety, there is no systematic, or even partial, oversight of adults charged with their care. As a result, parents are put in the difficult position of deciding whether caregivers of all kinds are sufficiently skilled and responsible to look after children. How to Keep Your Children Safe is essential reading for any parent concerned about child safety. It takes a hard look at the hidden side of children's lives--the times when they're in contact with caregivers who aren't doing their jobs properly. It provides detailed information on places where children are under the care of others, including day care, recreational settings, religious and civic organizations, schools, and summer camps.Vissing investigates the potential perils of each setting and enumerates ways in which parents can better monitor, or take control of, their child's safety. By writing a realistic assessment of commonplace settings that every parent and child can relate to, and offering a road map to child safety,Vissing empowers parents to make critical decisions about their children's lives.

Keeping Me Safe At Home was written to give parents and guardians a guide to keeping children safe if they need to be home alone. This positive and encouraging story explains and reinforces the importance of “Family Rules” for children’s safety. Information to help determine YOUR family rules as well as organizations that can help are included in this book. “When do children have the skills and maturity to be safely left home alone? This is a difficult decision for all parents, yet developing family rules provides children with guidance to make good choices. When successful, the experience can boost a child’s confidence as well as promote independence and responsibility. This story provides a great way for parents and children to talk about and prepare for this developmental milestone.” Lisa Specter-Dunaway, CEO, Families Forward Virginia Virginia Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America www.familiesforwardva.org “Keeping Me Safe at Home is a fantastic resource for both parents and professionals to help guide conversations in a child friendly manner as families decide if a child is ready to be left home alone. This engaging story teaches children important safety lessons while empowering them to be more responsible and better prepared to stay home alone. Cindy Chambers, once again, captures the hearts and minds of her young audience, while seamlessly weaving in lessons on safety and well-being. This thought provoking story will help readers answer the question “Is my child ready to be left home alone?” Dave Cleary Founder, SCAN of Northern Virginia “I love how Keeping Me Safe at Home takes such an important topic and breaks it down so that people will have an opportunity to talk to children about making good choices. I also like that it provides readers the occasion to see that social workers are kind and that our main goal is to keep children safe!” Randi Knights, Director Manassas Park Department of Social Services “Keeping Me Safe at Home is a wonderful book about keeping children safe when they are home alone. It takes me back in time to when my family made decisions about when and how it was appropriate to leave our daughters alone. The book does an outstanding job of explaining the importance of rules and guidelines that should be in place. It is an excellent addition to The Protect Me Book Series.” Jeanette Rishell, Mayor City of Manassas Park

25 Ways to Keep Your Child Safe, Healthy and Successful: Lessons from a School Counselor was written to provide parents with the knowledge and tools needed to help their children stay safe and healthy and find success in today's society. The lessons discussed are derived from the author's 20 plus years of experience working with children and parents. Parents are provided with information, tools and resources on 25 important topics including: learning difficulties; behavior challenges; peer pressure; drug and alcohol abuse; technology influences; bullying; healthy relationships; higher education and career planning; the importance of family relationships; adolescent mental health; gangs; eating disorders; and a host of other issues which can impact a child's ability to stay safe, be healthy and find success. Parents provide the crucial guidance and teachings that children need to maneuver through the challenges of school and childhood issues. Parents must be aware of the issues that can affect their children's happiness and well-being. This book is a handbook for all parents to learn about what issues impact today's children and what they can do to keep their children safe, healthy and successful.

Spotlights specific efforts to promote and strengthen families. Explores the federal role in converting social welfare programs into family investment programs to prevent abuse and preserve families. Hearings before Congress. 12 witnesses including representatives from: National Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, William Penn Foundation, Hawaii Family Stress Center, Families First and many more.