WHAT IS THE JOYFUL CHILD FOUNDATION (TJCF)?
The Joyful Child Foundation—In Memory of Samantha Runnion (TJCF) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2002 after the abduction, molestation and murder of five-year-old Samantha Runnion. TJCF is dedicated to raising awareness about child sexual abuse and abduction while facilitating proactive community organizing to give everyone an opportunity to participate in the national movement to stop these horrible crimes against children.
WHAT IS Samantha’s PRIDE?
Launched in California in January 2004, Samantha’s PRIDE is the first program of TJCF. Samantha’s PRIDE is a neighborhood child protection program with free training and materials to empower neighbors to protect children from sexual abuse and abduction. Parents volunteer to wear PRIDE Protector vests to watch children outside in public view, at neighborhood events, playing or walking to or from school.
THE ONLY KNOWN DETERRENT TO A PREDATOR IS THE RISK OF GETTING CAUGHT.
5 STEPS TO STARTING A Samantha’s P.R.I.D.E. NEIGHBORHOOD CHILD PROTECTION PROGRAM
- Identify two non-related adults to be in the Neighborhood PRIDE. Please assign a leader as the contact between the PRIDE, the PRIDE Facilitator and TJCF Foundation.
- Contact TJCF to facilitate a Neighborhood Child Protection Meeting. A PRIDE Facilitator will share information every parent should know about child sexual abuse and abduction. Attendees are introduced to the PRIDE Program and invited to join their own Neighborhood PRIDE.
- Volunteers must complete and return a background check application and PRIDE Oath. Prospective PRIDE Members must present a valid State ID, Drivers License, Military ID or United States Passport to the PRIDE Facilitator in person to verify their identity.
- Approved volunteers are invited to the PRIDE Vesting Meeting to create a Neighborhood PRIDE Plan, distribute the PRIDE phone tree and present the red PRIDE vests. To be vested in something means to have the right of ownership. Thus, the PRIDE Vesting meeting is the commencement of the Neighborhood PRIDE and the Members collectively own their PRIDE.
- PRIDE Members put on red PRIDE vests and watch children in teams, in public outdoor areas; e.g. before and after school, at the park or other community venues and events. In addition, your Neighborhood PRIDE will have at least two meetings per year and one annual PRIDE safety event to share the program with the community. The PRIDE Leader sends TJCF photos of PRIDE activities, monthly logs of volunteer hours and event summary forms.
|
