Newsletter - 36th Edition

Air Canada Kids’ Horizons/RCMP Child Recovery Award 2008

By Staff Sergeant Roger Martin

Sandra Staley Receives a National Service Award

The Air Canada Kids’ Horizons/RCMP Child Recovery Award is an award of excellence that recognizes the work and efforts of a Canadian individual or organization in the search for and safe recovery of missing children.

Sandra Staley was recently recognized for her outstanding work following the abduction of a two-year old child. On December 2, 2008, at a ceremony in Newmarket, Ontario, she was presented with the national 2008 Air Canada Kids’ Horizons/RCMP Child Recovery Award.

Detective Staley began her career in 1980 as a civilian member of the York Regional Police Department. She worked in various positions, including administration and police dispatch, and as well gave assistance to both police officers and Crown Attorney’s in a variety of ways.

In 1994, she left York Regional Police and became a police officer. Her postings included, to name a few, the Ontario Provincial Police and Durham Regional Police force.

In 1998, she returned to York Regional Police as a police constable. After several front-line policing assignments, she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Throughout her career she has been recognized for exceptional service receiving several prestigious police awards.

This award is presented for her investigative work following the abduction of a two year-old child. The biological mother had lost custody of the child to Family Services. The mother abducted the child from its “safe” environment to one that was considered to be “unsafe”. The recipient of this award coordinated a complex investigation which resulted in the child being recovered and safely returned to protective services.

In essence, this award is presented to an individual who has worked diligently to accomplish many goals in the policing environment and progressed successfully from civilian to police officer tasks.

Although today she is a police officer, her work as a civilian member was recognized as well. In all work situations, she pursued her goals with determination, diligence and persistence, sometimes placing her own safety at-risk to get the “job done”.

For those of us who are working in a field of preventing or minimizing child victimization, this is a prestigious award, and one which Detective Staley can be justifiably very proud of this honor.

For more information please contact RCMP National Missing Children Services or the Our Missing Children (OMC) website at www.ourmissingchildren.gc.ca

National Missing Children Services Training Sessions

Cpl. Julie Gagnon and Cpl. Marie-France Olivera presented a two-day missing children workshop to a group of 24 York Regional Police Service investigators on October 28-29, 2008. The workshop featured speakers such as Sharon Pezzano, Intelligence Office at the Canadian Border Services Agency, Investigator Ed Dizon of the Toronto Police Child Prostitution Squad and Mr. Emil Dittrich, a father whose three sons were abducted to the Czech Republic by their mother and were eventually returned to Canada in 2007. Similar workshops are held several times a year throughout Canada and are offered at no cost to any Canadian Police Service who identifies a need to train their officers in all types of missing children cases.

The workshop concentrates mainly on parental abduction investigations by examining provincial and federal legislation, court orders and completing scenario-based exercises. This two-day training opportunity will help investigators gain fundamental knowledge to enhance their investigation and, more importantly, increase their awareness of National Missing Children Services, National Police Service as well as other agencies which can assist, guide and support them in resolving their missing children investigations.

Announcements

1. Canadian Police Centre for Missing and Exploited Children Conference, June 2-4, 2009 Montreal, Quebec (National Missing Children Services & National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre).
2. 5th World Congress on Family Law and Children’s Rights, August 23-26, 2009 in Halifax, N.S. ( Law Enforcement Session, 120 minutes)
3. Law Enforcement Future Challenges - Protecting Children.
   1. Canadian Services Mandate and Investigative Support
   2. Technological Investigative Support
   3. A Vision for the Future ( http://www.lawrights.asn.au/ )

Bid Farewell to Cpl. Marie France Olivera

It is with great melancholy that I bid farewell to my position as operations analyst with the National Missing Children Services (NMCS). I have dedicated the last 12 years of my career to the plight of missing and exploited children. Many people have commented on how difficult my job must be. However, I have always believed that it is the front-line peace officers and case workers from various not-for-profit organizations who have had the difficult task of dealing with the victims, one on one, and assisting with this difficult work of searching for and recovering missing children. I feel extremely privileged to have been able to help these dedicated professionals while sitting comfortably at my desk behind my computer at the RCMP Headquarters, Ottawa.

During my numerous travels, I have been involved by giving and receiving training, meeting and discussing issues with foreign police agencies, government organizations, left-behind parents and on occasion victimized children as well as presenting on NMCS services and law enforcement investigative procedures. During these work years, I have learned valuable life lessons. Consequently, it is not surprising that I have remained with NMCS for so long. I have had a good life here and am thankful for having had the chance to contribute to such an honorable cause.

I have worked with many partnering agencies that have been instrumental in bringing so many children home; colleagues and human beings whose hearts are in the right place. I'd like to thank all of you for your dedication, caring and commitment to missing children. I have always looked forward to a full day's work at NMCS for the challenges and satisfaction it brought me. The truth is that coming to the office was like coming back home...comfortable and familiar. To my "family" at NMCS, I will miss you very much and wish you all the blessings life has to offer. I wish you as much contentment in your career as I have had in mine. Now it's time for me to leave my comfort zone to further my career objectives and continue to provide meaningful service to the RCMP as a harassment advisor. I look forward to the challenges this new job opportunity represents and intend to give my best efforts to make a difference.

Marie France Olivera

Missouri State University, Springfield Missouri, May 2008

The Plight of Children – Marlene Dalley, PhD., NMCS, Canada

Panel Presentation

My area of interest and expertise is child abuse –mostly the issues which relate to missing and exploited children – concentrating more fully on stranger abduction, parental abduction, runaways and street-involved children.

1. Stranger abduction

The first area of child abuse is stranger abduction. It is one of the most heinous sexual abuse crimes involving young children. Rarely is a child abducted and not sexually abused. Most often they are murdered by suffocation during the act. Only on a rare occasion is a child recovered and safely returned home. In some incidences the perpetrator’s assault on the child or youth is very quick. Consequently, the parent or caregiver does not know the child is missing until they receive the devastating news.

Older children, mostly teens, are also abducted but most often not reported to authorities as missing, especially those children whose parents feel they should be “out of the home and on their own”. Some children are classified as throwaway children; children not wanted. Still others are not reported to police as missing because the parent or guardian fears they will loose their child welfare benefit. All these children are very vulnerable to victimization.

Young teens tend to be sexually assaulted and then returned to the spot where they were abducted. In Canada, the incident is often reported to police as an assault rather than a missing child report and scored as such. This practice makes it difficult to determine the exact number of stranger abduction victims on a yearly basis.

In terms of developing a national picture, the number of stranger abduction incidents in Canada, and the United States, is quite low in relation to the population of children. However, parents must realize that children can be abused in many other ways and for this reason children must be provided with the necessary tools to protect themselves from predators.

Nonetheless, in spite of parents and society’s best attempts to protect children, some are victimized. Abductors plan their approaches and they are often successful because most victims are too young to recognize or outsmart a predator.

There are two common ways to abduct a child victim. These are as follows:

A. The Con Attack The predator lures or cons the child or youth to a spot where they are assaulted and /or harmed or occasionally murdered (Examples: Come with me to find my dog! or Would you like a ride to the party or school dance?).

B. The Blitz Attack The predator approaches the child or youth suddenly, often using force. This action occurs so quickly that the child does not have time to prepare to react appropriately and escape the predator.

Stranger abduction: What are we doing right?

There are many prevention programs throughout North America that are very successful. Our schools are active in promoting safe schools and communities, and the not-for-profit sector is working diligently to assist parents and educate the public.

Children are more aware of how to stop abductions. They are educated to scream, kick, grab hold of a pole in a store or another fixed object so that the potential abductor cannot carry them away, and use other actions to avoid being abducted.

Additionally, parents are spending more quality time educating their children. I have noticed a trend surfacing, that is children are talking about, and concentrating on ways of staying alive even while enduring horrific assaults and grueling circumstances.

If you recall, a few years ago, 14 year-old Elizabeth Smart, was abducted and subsequently lived with her abductors for nine months before she was found by police and returned home. Today, Elizabeth leads a normal life.

Parents and educators are helping children internalize the importance of using their instincts to survive these circumstances. Last year, two Canadian children opened their abductor’s car trunk from the inside. They were successfully in drawing the attention of a passer-by and exiting the trunk to safety.

In another incident, an abducted child stayed alive for a week after being confined in a trailer in the woods against her/his will. As well, another child was abducted and then released by the predator, wandering home to safety.

Although there is no solid evidence to back up this point, I have noticed the change in the children’s attitude …and that is, to stay alive, no matter what the circumstances.

With regard to law enforcement, the Amber Alert program is in place throughout Canada and the United States (Since 2002, there were 29 Canadian Amber Alerts activated – four occurred last year.)

As well most police agencies realize an abducted child can be murdered within a few hours after capture. Consequently, some police agencies have developed extensive “Investigative Response Plans”. These are launched immediately when a child or youth is reported missing. However, preset criteria must be met.

For further information, please consult the Stranger Abduction research report at www.ourmissingchildren.gc.ca. Although this report was completed in 2003, the situation is similar today.

2. Parental abduction

The second area is parental abduction, another form of child abuse. When I first started working in this area, the attitude of law enforcement was “this is a civil matter” or “the child is with the other parent so there is no need to worry”. Unfortunately, this attitude still persists today. However, increased research evidence points to the fact that the child may not be safe with the other parent as previously thought.

Currently, the public strongly agree that taking a child from the other parent is wrong, and this action should have long-term consequences. In the past, this attitude was not shared by others.

To explain further, these young children are abducted, often live the life of a fugitive moving from place to place, change their name and maybe cross-dress to hide their identity, and are disconnected from family and familiar surroundings. They may be told the other parent does not want them anymore or is dead.

Parental abduction research findings show that these children suffer emotional abuse characterized by increased anxiety, fear, depression and paranoia. Additionally they show changes such as increased incidents of nightmares, sleeplessness, and concentration and relationship difficulties. For more information on parental abduction see the 2007 Parental Abduction research report at www.ourmissingchildren.gc.ca

Parental abduction: What are we doing right?

In Canada the Criminal Code has a consistent parental abduction law that applies in every province in Canada. Basically, the law states that if you abduct, hide or conceal a child you are charged with kidnapping and this offence could result in a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. To date, some abductors have been given sentences as long as six years.

Also, Canada has a national law enforcement investigative assistance Center, National Missing Children Services (NMCS) under National Police Service and located within the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Seventy-four per cent of the NMCS assistance requests last year were parental abductions. Many abductors flee with their child from Canada to another country.

Also, NMCS partners with Canada Border Service Agency, the Department of Justice Canada, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade in an effort to investigate these cases and ensure that children do not leave the country. If they do, they continue to further the investigation abroad. NMCS also works with Transport Canada, training officials. Additionally, we recognize and work with several Canadian not-for-profit organizations (see the web site), whose mandate is to search, recover and return missing children.

NMCS works almost daily with the United States, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children located in Alexandria, Virginia. This reciprocal partnership has worked successfully for over fifteen years.

Last year, NMCS assisted with 368 United States parental abduction cases involving 505 children, and 136 international cases involving 181 children.

Although Canadian parental abduction incidents are steadily decreasing, a 2007 study showed that 63% of the children were taken out of the country.

3. Runaway children and youth

A third and final area of consideration, is the runaway and street-involved children. These children and youth seem to be the forgotten group.

They are on the streets of our cities and towns in situations of neglect, prostituting on the streets and indoors, selling and taking drugs and the like. Some are reported missing while others are not. Other children and youth are described as throwaway children. Children no one cares enough about them to file a missing child report.

As I reflect back over 20 years of service, I am reminded that the first Canadian study and report on runaway children was titled “A Focus on Runaways”. It is difficult to accept that addressing this issue lags far behind other issues involving children. Agencies, especially law enforcement, relate that it is not against the law to run away and yet, these children and youth are among the most vulnerable to victimization.

Research study findings point out very specifically that the more they run away, the more apt they are to be controlled and manipulated by predators, like abductors, pimps, gang leaders and drug dealers.

Fortunately, this year, the Government of Canada has been looking more carefully on the situation, including the study of the domestic trafficking of children.

Runaways: What are we doing right?

More recently, law enforcement, government, service agencies and society at large have been viewing this group of children as very vulnerable and easy targets for predators. Officials show a desire to learn more about the issue and put policies and procedures in place to prevent them from running away, and suggest ways to protect them from harm if they do.

The chronic runner is of grave concern. Researchers now have evidence to show runaways are groomed for the sex trade in areas in Canada. In this situation, they become trapped, mainly because they are addicted to drugs, exposed to disease, violently treated to pay drug debts, recruited by gangs and on occasion, involved with and controlled by organized crime leaders. The more often they run the more they are exposed to the dangers of street life and likelihood to be entrenched in this life style.

In Canada, school and community programs emphasize that running away is not a good choice and suggest alternatives as well as offer support services. For those who have repeatedly run away, there is counseling and support on ways to exit the street life situation.

Service agencies are helping children and youth to exit the sex trade and rebuild their lives. Additionally, police are viewing prostitution as sexual exploitation and not criminalizing their choices as often as before.

Additionally, Canadian agencies are working together to combat the problem and related problems. This cooperation and collaboration has helped communities more effectively address the situation.

Conclusion: Considering all issues, what can we do better?

The response to such issues is often a knee jerk reaction. The issue is important when it is identified as the political flavor of the day. Consequently, researchers, and program and service agencies jump upon the “gravy train” for additional funding to address the problem. Seemingly for some, the issue is a new one but for others it is not. However, there is political support and for this reason, the way the issue is viewed – groups of children and youth become the center of attention and action – fortunately and thankfully.

Nonetheless, there is sparse planning, coordination, collaboration and cooperation among agencies as each group moves forward to address the problem. Meetings are held with major stakeholders, bringing them up to speed, but for the most part each department or agency travels its own path. Most often there is a lack of sharing which results in the duplication of efforts. As well, it is almost impossible for some to build on the efforts made by others.

Not surprisingly officials settle for a short-term solution to a seemingly long-term problem. Sometimes a new name is given to an old problem. As time passes and a new issue surfaces the status quo reached at the time seems to prevail. Over the years, such issues never seem to be fully addressed and consequently appear years later in full force or linked to another issue.

I urge those addressing an issue to work together and build on each other efforts in an effort to find an appropriate and workable long-term solution.

In closing, Janet Reno, former Attorney General of the United States made this impact statement at a child-centered conference.

“I can make changes that affect our nation but only you can make changes that will affect your community…in essence, if we build strong communities we will have strong nations”.

So I leave this challenge with you …..

“Be a voice for the children and youth in your community”.

National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre

National Police Service, RCMP-GRC

In the summer of 2008, twenty Canadian youth were chosen to represent Canada at the first International Youth Advisory Congress (IYAC) on Internet Safety and Security in London, England. Students between the ages of fourteen and sixteen years old who considered themselves Internet-savvy were invited to submit an application to the National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre (NCECC) indicating their knowledge about Internet technology, leadership skills, and what they wanted to gain from this experience. Within a three week window, nearly 100 applications were received from across the country. After reviewing several high quality essays, videos, and application forms, 20 individuals were selected to represent Canada.

The first part of their trip was to come together in Ottawa and get to know each other. For three days the group, along with five police officers representing various regions throughout Canada, visited Rideau Hall (home of Canada=s Governor General), were given a tour of 24 Sussex (home of the Prime Minister of Canada), and enjoyed team building activities at Algonquin College. Twenty-five individuals arrived in Ottawa to form Team Canada as representatives at IYAC in London, England.

Together with over 150 youth delegates from around the globe (representing 19 countries), Canada=s representatives participated with law enforcement agencies, industry, the media, and non-governmental organizations, to develop a strategy to ensure online safety and security for youth. Youth participants were separated in groups to share their ideas about making the Internet safer for them. The IYAC gave young people an opportunity to learn how online and offline child-protection measures are created and implemented; to engage young people who directly face online risks by enabling them to design solutions and interact with people and organizations who work to better protect them; and, for young people from various cultures and backgrounds to share with each other in an open forum.

The resulting IYAC Charter the Children and Young Persons= Global Online Charter was presented by Rebecca Prior from Australia to the World Congress III Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, (November 25-28, 2008). The World Congress focused on how to protect children from various types of sexual exploitation.

The IYAC Charter is an amendment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Child and can be viewed at www.iyac.net.

Missing Children Society of Canada

Barbara Snider Celebrates 25 years

Barbara (Barb) Snider began her career with Child Find Ontario in 1983, one of the first not-for-profit organizations dedicated to missing children issues, including prevention, search for and recovery challenges. Later on in her career, Barb took a position with the Missing Children Society of Canada. She is considered to be one of the pioneers in the search, investigation and recovery of missing children and youth. She regularly assists lawyers, police, border, immigration officials, social service agencies, fathers, mothers, grandparents, to name a few.

She specializes in the search for abducted children both in Canada and abroad. and facilitates the reunification of the located child with the left-behind parent. Additionally, she passes on her knowledge and expertise to others, training staff, speaking at conferences, seminars and workshops. She also works in collaboration with the NMCS, RCMP researcher in an effort to draw attention to the emotional abuse children suffer during and after a parental abduction experience.

Over the years she has worked with John Walsh from “America’s Most Wanted” television program and assisted Australians’ safeguard their hospitals against newborn abduction. As well, she attended functions with the U.S. President and First Lady Bush as they implemented changes to protect children. Her knowledge and expertise is unparalleled.

Throughout her career, Barb has worked cooperatively and collaboratively with National Missing Children Services, RCMP. In 2003, she received the Award of Excellence for her dedication to missing child recoveries from Our Missing Children program (OMC partner group), including NMCS, RCMP.

We appreciate your dedication and assistance. Congratulations on 25 years of service!

How to Manage the Fear of the Unknown When Your Child Runs Away

By: Stanley Popovich

Almost everybody worries when their child runs away from home or care. The prospect of not knowing if something good or bad will happen can produce a lot of fear and anxiety. As a result, here is a list of techniques and suggestions on how to manage this fear when your child runs away.

Remember that no one can predict the future with one hundred percent certainty. Even if your worse fear happens, unpredictable circumstances and factors arise. These unknown factors can be used to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Keep in mind that ninety-nine percent of the time, we can correctly predict the future, but that one percent factor can change the situation and make a world of difference in the outcome. Typically, our worries focus on worse case scenarios.

Also, it is important to challenge any negative thinking by applying positive and realistic thinking. Address fearful or depressed thoughts by asking yourself questions that will maintain an objective and common sense approach to the situation or problem. When your child runs away it is important to focus on the facts of the situation and not on your worries. Worry only exaggerates the problem and does not follow the path of realistic thinking. Gather all the facts surrounding the situation to help you make an informed decision. Talk to knowledgeable authorities, officials and support persons, who have experience with families of and youth who run away. Once the facts are gathered, base your decisions on these facts and the advice you are given.

Also, learn to take one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week, try focusing on each day. As you gather new information, new challenges will surface and the way you deal with these challenges will be different.

The situations will change from day-to-day too but worrying about what will happen next week is a waste of time. Gather more information so you can learn more about the situation. Focus on the present.

It is important to take a deep breath and keep yourself busy so your mind will not be full of anxiety and stress. Take a walk, listen to some music, read the newspaper, watch TV, play on the computer or find an activity that will give you a fresh perspective on the situation. Use these opportunities as distractions from current worries. Often the more one worries, the worse the problem becomes. As often said, “All the worrying in the world will not change anything”. All we are required to do is our best each day, keep hoping for a good outcome, and when something negative happens, take it in stride. At any time in the process, it is helpful to seek support from a counselor, clergyman, or professional.

Keep in tune with your spiritual self. Join a group of like-minded people and practice your beliefs. Ask for strength to cope with the fear of the unknown regarding the disappearance of your child. Ask for help and guidance from those who are close to you. Read materials and books and become knowledgeable on your spiritual needs and other related challenges. Apply the concepts learned. Nurturing your spiritual self during this difficult time is important.

Also, manage your negative thoughts. For example, when encountering a fear-provoking thought, visualize in your mind a red stop sign. Then, when a negative thought appears apply this technique to other situations. The visualized red stop sign will constantly serve as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and change it to something more positive.

Another very helpful technique is to write positive statements from time to time in a small book and carry these in your pocket or purse. If you feel depressed or frustrated, open the notebook and read those statements. Accentuating the positive may help you manage those negative thoughts.

In every anxiety-related situation learn what works, what does not work, and what you need to improve upon to manage your fears and anxieties. If walking outside for awhile makes you feel better, then the next time you feel anxious take a walk. Build upon your repertoire of activities and use them when you feel stressed out.

Alcohol and substance abuse will not solve your problem or ease your fears. They might make you feel better for a short time, but over time their use will compound the problem and increase stress levels. Also, drug use may impair your judgments at a time when you must stay open-minded and focused.

Be smart in how you deal with your fears and anxieties. Do not try to tackle all problems at once; divide the coping tasks into a series of smaller steps. Take one step at a time. For example, let’s say that you get up in the morning and you are completely overrun by fear and worry over your child running away. When this happens, try to do one task at a time. Tell yourself that I am going to make breakfast even though I am sick with worry. Once you have made breakfast you can tell yourself that if you were able to do this task, even though you felt like you could not, then you can tackle the next task, like reading the newspaper. The goal is to not sit around and do nothing while worry overwhelms you. Keep active by completing small tasks. As you do more tasks you will become more productive and in time will feel better.

The main point of this article is to point out that no matter how difficult it is for you to manage your fears, it is important to seek support from others and apply these techniques. These approaches may be hard work and take persistence, but it is possible for you to work through your fears and anxieties satisfactorily. In the end, hope will prevail.

Biography
Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an easy book to read that presents a general overview of techniques used to manage persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/

National Missing Children Services, National Police Service, RCMP-GRC

Back row: L-R Sandra Hatzis, Stephan Hobbs, Marlene Dalley, John Oliver, Eric Munro, Marie-France Olivera

Sitting: Judy Greening, Julie Gagnon, Roger Martin, NCO i/c.