Despite recent downward crime trends, parents are very concerned about the safety of their children.

The statistics are staggering:

• 1 child is abducted every 40 seconds in the United States.
• 8470 children are reported abused or neglected every day.
• 280 children are arrested for violent crimes every day.
• 39% of children under 18 are using drugs when they commit crimes.
• Every minute 8 children attempt suicide and 3 end up in the hospital or the morgue.
• In 1999, 750,000 children were reported missing to law enforcement.

If any other segment of our population were so impacted, we would declare an epidemic: the center for disease control would fund a cure; we would pass and enforce legislation and we would increase private and public security. But, since it is only our children many in our society accept these appalling numbers as status quo. Although there are no quick fixes to the problems of child safety, there are many things that we can do as adults to address and positively impact the issue.