Press Releases

Dec 2, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Geoff Haynes, AmberWatch Foundation
561.694.8685


ALACHUA COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS PARTNERS WITH THE AMBERWATCH FOUNDATION TO HELP EMPOWER ELEMENTARY STUDENTS AGAINST CHILD OFFENDERS



Alachua County, Fla. (December 2, 2008) - The AmberWatch Foundation (AWF) is thrilled to announce the implementation of their "Be Safe!" Education Program into the standard curriculum for all elementary schools in Florida's Alachua County Public Schools. The "Be Safe!" Program is the leading abduction and molestation prevention program in the state, providing school districts a cost-free method for teaching children (and their parents) how to stay safe from child predators.

"We're happy to include Alachua County among many school districts in the state that are taking a proactive approach to keeping their children safe from sex offenders," says Geoff Haynes, vice president of program development for the AmberWatch Foundation. "The children of Alachua County will be safer because they are taking action."

"Parents and schools should be key players in teaching children about personal safety rules," said Sharon Spreen, the district's teacher specialist for Safe and Drug Free Schools. "The AmberWatch 'Be Safe!' Program allows children and parents to see, hear, talk about and learn important personal safety rules."

Alachua County Public Schools will make the "Be Safe!" Program available to all elementary schools in the district. They will also be one of the first in the country to utilize the AmberWatch Foundation's online training program to facilitate the rollout of the "Be Safe!" Education Program.

On average, a child is reported missing every 40 seconds and more and more schools and organizations are now recognizing the need to educate children about personal safety. Through ongoing support by local law enforcement, educators, parents and community members, the "Be Safe!' Program continues to arm children with knowledge of how to stay safe.

Since its introduction in 2005, the "Be Safe!" Program, consisting of a basic classroom curriculum with group discussions, workbook activities and assignments, has been adopted in many of the largest school districts in the country and is currently offered and taught in school districts nationally.

For more information on the AmberWatch Foundation and the "Be Safe!" Education Program, please visit www.AmberWatchFoundation.org.

About AmberWatchFoundation
Headquartered in Irvine, California, the AmberWatch Foundation is a national not-for-profit organization passionately dedicated to keeping kids safe from molestation and abduction through preventative education programs. At the core of their mission is the AmberWatch Foundation's "Be Safe!" Education Program, that educates children (and parents) on how to stay safe from child abductors and molesters. The AmberWatch Foundation partners with local law enforcement and educators to deliver the program at no cost to the school, municipality or local community. For more information, please visit www.AmberWatchFoundation.org.