My friend posted this on Facebook and I wanted to share it since it is such important information. I check our neighborhood a few times a year and still found a few surprises when I checked a few days ago. Be informed!
THERE'S NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT THAN YOUR CHILDREN'S SAFETY!
School's starting soon! Be a wise parent and know the registered sex offenders in your area at FAMILY WATCHDOG.
Did you know parents can request bus stops be moved if it's near a sex offenders residence?
"AUGUST means summer is closing in and the kids are going back to school. Which means it's the perfect time to run a FamilyWachdog search and check on your kid's route to school and to check the neighborhood the bus stop is.
Many states have laws that prevent registered sex offenders from living too close to schools and parks, but there are no laws that restricts their residence based on bus stop location. Given that suburban and rural America is scattered with bus stops, it is extremely likely that there are registered sex offenders that live near school bus stops. Registered sex offenders can move just like anyone else.
What if there is a registered sex offender near my child's bus stop?
A child should have a chaperone at each bus stop, this duty can be shared between parents (or even an older, responsible sibling) so everyone can make it to work on time while the children have a lookout. A chaperone will also serve as an aid to make sure the bus stops and there is no bullying.
Notify your school district and request that they move the bus stop. Most transportation directors are reasonable people that truly have your child's safety as their top priority. If you alert them to the situation, they will likely accommodate your request to move the bus stop. There are various reasons why bus stops cannot be moved so there are no guarantees.
If your child walks to school, make sure they understand that for no reason, should they stop and talk to strangers. If they are old enough and understanding, show them the offenders off of our site so they can avoid certain people.
And as always, if a child runs into a situation where as someone makes them feel uncomfortable, make them know to tell an adult as soon as they get to school so that the problem can be assessed as soon as possible.
We also wanted to make sure you and your children have a plan for after school activities and the buses for those programs. And we also wanted to make sure your children know what to do once they get home (if they are alone). Leave an emergency number list on the fridge and make sure a trusted neighbor can look after them. It might be a smart idea for the neighbor to hold onto an extra key since all kids will lose a key every now and then.
August is also National Immunization month. It has perfect timing since school registration is on its way and most kids must be up to date on their shots. Are your kids up-to-date?" http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/
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