Bulletin Announcement

Child Protection

11/09/2025

Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments- Know the Warning Signs of a Predator: Perpetrators are not waiting on the street to snatch kids; only 10% of sexually abused children are abused by strangers. 90% are abused by someone known and trusted by the child/child’s family. Perpetrators integrate themselves into everyone’s life, not just the child. They build relationships so that they are trusted to be alone with the child. One of the most important ways to ensure the safety of children in our environments is to know the warning signs of adults who present a risk of harm to children. Among these signs are when the person (1) always wants to be alone with a child in areas where no one can monitor the interactions, (2) allows a child to do things their parents would not permit, (3) is always more excited to be with children than with adults, and (4) discourages others from participating in activities involving kids. Visit www.eriercd.org/childprotection/ for more information and resources.