PDF - Attorney General

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OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Post Office Box 220 • Jackson, MS 39205-0220 • 601-359-3680 / Toll Free: 800-829-6766 • www.agjimhood.com
Guide to Child Safety: A Parent’s PLAN
A PARENT PLAN
FOR
SAFETY (PREPARATION, LISTENING, AWARENESS, NURTURING)
Dear Fellow Mississippi Parents:
A
s parents, we should implement a PLAN
to protect our children. As your Attorney
General and the parent of three, I feel it is one
of my duties to help ensure the safety of those
least able to protect themselves, our children.
Children are vulnerable to being enticed into
dangerous situations by predators who prey on their innocence and
trust. “Guide to Child Safety: A Parent’s PLAN” has been compiled by my staff to help you keep your children safe.
There are four elements of our PLAN. First, we must Prepare our
children to make positive, healthy choices. Second, we must really
Listen to what children tell us every day. Third, we must be Aware
of our children’s friends, habits, school environment, and so forth.
Fourth, and probably the most important, we must Nurture our
children, so that they will share their thoughts and feelings with us
and mature into healthy, caring adults.
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
POST OFFICE BOX 220
JACKSON, MS 39205-0220
601-359-3680
www.agjimhood.com
www.ago.state.ms.us
S
tatistics from the Department of
Justice show that out of 326 sexual
assault victims, 74% knew the
perpetrator well, and 21.1% of this
number were members of the victim’s
family.
F
BI statistics indicate that a child
has a 100% chance of meeting a
predator in an Internet chat room.
Table of Contents
Introduction
2
Parent Safety Net Rules
2
Facts About Child Sexual Abuse
3
Common Methods Predators Use
3
On-Line Safety
6
Child Care Safety
8
Lost or Missing Children
10
JIM HOOD
Substance Abuse
12
ATTORNEY GENERAL
STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
Warning Signs
15
Drinking
16
Tobacco
18
Resources
19
Chat Abbreviations
21
With a PLAN in place, we will be better equipped to protect our
children. I hope this guide is beneficial for you as we work together to keep Mississippi’s children safe.
Sincerely,
V
ital factors in
ensuring child
Introduction
safety are: Preparation,
Listening, Awareness, and Nurturing. Because dangerous situations are real in a child’s world, parents
must use every measure available to protect their
children. Unfortunately, parents cannot be with
their child at all times, so this PLAN provides parents with some indicators of predatory behavior,
steps to implement, precautionary guidelines to
follow and some basic safety skills for children.
The majority of abducted or exploited children are
victimized by someone they know, not a stranger.
This is a critical fact for both you and your children.
Unfortunately, children are often told only to be
suspicious of persons who are unfamiliar or unknown to them. Instead, children should be instructed to be on the alert for certain situations and
actions, rather than just certain types of individuals.
Strangers often approach children on the Internet.
FBI statistics indicate that a child has a 100% chance
of meeting a predator in an Internet chat room.
Also, a report on the nation’s youths found that in
2004 approximately one in five children ages 10 to
17 received a sexual solicitation or approach over
the Internet. The significance of these facts should
motivate parents to caution their children that an
adult
stranger
may
try
to
“befriend” them
over the Internet,
even going so far
as to pose as another child. Children should be
told to trust their
instincts when a situation seems uncomfortable to
them. Make sure they know that it is okay to say
“no,” even to an adult when they feel uncomfortable. Of course children should be taught to be
courteous to others, but not at the risk of their personal safety.
Read the Parent PLAN, then commit to teaching
your child the skills presented. Arm them with the
knowledge that they need to live protected today
while training them to live safely as adults.
Parent Safety Net - A Checklist of Key Safety Rules
(Compiled from a publication from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children)
• Know where your child is at all times; check in • Remind him that it is okay to say “no” to anyone
•
•
•
•
•
•
with each other often, most especially before and
after changing locations.
Never leave a child alone in a vehicle.
Caution him not to accept rides from anyone he
does not know or to walk near parked cars, especially unfamiliar ones.
When your child goes out, make sure he is not
alone; try the buddy system. Advise him not to
take shortcuts through wooded, remote or unfamiliar areas.
Listen to your child! Note any changes in attitude or behavior.
Pay attention if your child says that he does not
want to be at a certain place or in the company of
a specific adult. Encourage him to trust his own
feelings or instincts about situations.
Practice safety measures with your child while in
public locations, so that he will know how to
respond if he is ever at risk.
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in any situation that feels uncomfortable.
• In addition to teaching your child to be able to
•
•
•
•
call you when you are away from home, remember to teach him how to call 911 and how to call
home collect.
Instruct him never to tell callers that he is home
alone.
Keep updated photos of your child and a record
of basic information that would be used if he
were lost or missing. Also, it is important to remember what your child is wearing everyday.
Get to know your child’s friends and their parents. Know your neighbors and arrange for a
particular neighborhood home to be a “safe
house” for your child to go if he feels afraid
when you are not at home.
Encourage your child to be cautious at all times.
Stress that he does not have to be afraid of all
strangers or unfamiliar situations but to be
aware and cautious.
Facts That Parents Should Know
About Child Sexual Abuse
C
hild abusers are often known to their victims
or even related to them. Statistics from the
Department of Justice show that out of 326 sexual
assault victims, 74% knew the perpetrator well
and 21.1% of this number were members of the
victim’s family. Be certain that children understand that a predator may be someone they know
and trust.
Knowing correct physiological terminology is important for a child. When he has this knowledge,
he has the words to report what is happening to
him. Jurors in child sexual abuse cases have stated
that child victims are more believable when testifying about abuse if they are capable of expressing
themselves in an informed way. This is achieved
when they use correct terminology in explaining
how they were violated.
Be aware that child sexual abuse occurs even
when there is no physical contact, i.e. inappropriate touching. Non-contact abuse includes exposure, voyeurism and child pornography.
Parents should always be on the lookout for signs
of possible sexual abuse. Some warning signs may
be: inappropriate sexual knowledge, sexual interest or sexual acting out by the child, fear of certain persons, physical complaints, sleep disturbances, withdrawal from normal activities, depression, discipline problems, school problems, hostility, aggression, or self-destructive behavior. If
there are indicators of sexual abuse, or if you are
told by a child that sexual abuse has occurred, take
this seriously. Reassure him that he has done
nothing wrong, arrange for a doctor visit for an
examination and contact the local child advocacy
center for an appointment.
Myth
Parents will always know if their child
is a victim of abuse.
Fact
Children usually do not reveal abuse
until they are adults.
Common Methods
Predators Use
to Attract and Control Their Victims
•
•
•
•
•
Posing as the victim’s “buddy” or “pal”
Pretending to need help or assistance
Using “authority figure” influence over a victim
Promising gifts or entertainment to the victim
Flattering a victim or promising celebrated jobs
such as modeling or acting
• Intimidating the victim through bullying, taunting
or teasing
• Claiming to be a family acquaintance or friend
• Posing as an Internet “friend”
A
“Buddy” or “Pal”
predator, posing as a victim’s buddy, gains a
child’s trust by being friendly and attentive.
What begins as an innocent understanding or kindness can accelerate into abuse. A child who has enjoyed the regular attention may endure ongoing
abuse to preserve the relationship. Also, a child
may not report abuse to
protect the “friend” from
getting in trouble and going away.
ACTION STEPS:
• Instill in your child the
idea that it is wrong for
anyone to touch him in
his “swimming suit zone.” The American Academy of Pediatrics defines the “swimming suit
zone” as any area of the body which is covered by
a swimming suit. Teach your child to say “No” to
anyone who tries to touch him in these areas.
• Volunteer to participate in your child’s activities
which involve other adults.
• Assure your child that he can talk to you about
anything.
• Get to know anyone, child or adult, who becomes
a friend or mentor to your child.
• Be curious if your child suddenly develops a
strong dislike for someone or someplace or constantly wants to spend time with a certain person
or at a specific place.
• Immediately investigate if a young child begins
acting out sexually and determine how the inappropriate behavior was learned.
www.agjimhood.com
Page 3
Pretending to Need Help/Assistance
W
Needing Help or Assistance
hether it is giving directions, looking for a
lost pet, or agreeing to perform a job or
errand, a child is likely to be eager to help. However,
innocent goodwill may be dangerous in that a
predator may take advantage of a child by asking for
help. An opposite approach often used by predators
is to offer children help, claiming that there is an
emergency regarding the child’s home or family.
ACTION STEPS:
• Warn your child to avoid unfamiliar cars
approaching him; the child should stay at a
distance. Should an unfamiliar car approach, the
child should run in the opposite direction.
• Teach your child to ignore adults who ask for
directions or help.
• Explain to your child that pets are often used by
predators to tempt him to enter houses, yards or
out-of-the-way places. A child should never assist
someone looking for a pet or go view a new pet
without you or another trusted adult present.
• Remind your child to get permission before
agreeing to perform any type of errand or job for
someone.
• Accompany your child on job interviews (e.g.
babysitting) especially if he is going to a location
unfamiliar to both of you.
• Accompany your child if he is involved in door-todoor sales or solicitations.
• Teach your child that you or another trusted adult
will contact him if a family emergency occurs, and
that he would not learn of such from anyone else.
• Caution your child never to open the door when
home alone.
Myth
Child abusers usually have only one victim.
Fact
Child abusers usually have multiple victims,
sometimes even hundreds.
Flattering or Promising “Celebrity Type” Employment
A
predator may flatter older children by offering
the perfect modeling or acting job. This person
may insist that he needs to interview or audition the
child immediately, or take her somewhere to be photographed. In the excitement of the moment, the
child may forget that the offer could be a trick. A
predator may be manipulating the child into going to
an unsafe location.
ACTION STEPS:
• Always insist on accompanying your child to any
sort of audition, interview or photography session.
• Verify that the company being represented is actually auditioning or interviewing in your area.
The Family Friend or Acquaintance
C
hildren may think they can trust an unfamiliar adult if that person knows the
child’s name or family name. Parents should
never put a child’s name in an obvious place
on clothing, backpacks, or sports equipment.
A child may not realize that a stranger
knows his name solely because it is printed
on his belongings.
ACTIONS STEPS:
• Require that your child never go anywhere with a stranger even if that person
knows his name.
• Remind your child that just because someone calls his name, that does not mean
that this person is a friend.
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A
“Authority Figure” Power
n authority figure, like a buddy, may take
advantage of a child. He uses the child’s
respect for him and desire for attention as a strategic
device to gain power.
Authority figures may
intimidate or force a child into complying with an
abusive situation. Unfortunately, a child must even
be on guard around individuals with badges or
uniforms since sometimes predators will disguise
themselves in order to deceive a child.
ACTION STEPS:
• Give permission for your child to say “No” to an
authority figure who makes him feel apprehensive.
• Teach your child to trust only those uniformed
individuals (such as police officers) who are in
official vehicles.
Gifts and Entertainment
P
redators may sometimes give or promise
gifts and fun activities to attract children.
Naturally, children enjoy receiving toys (or other
age-specific gifts), candy, money, or promises of
entertainment. These are powerful tools that may
be used to entice children from familiar surroundings and into the predator’s control. Alcohol and
other drugs also may be given to children, with or
without their knowledge. If this happens, children
may become even more vulnerable.
ACTION STEPS:
• Warn your child that gifts may sometimes be a
tactic to gain trust, so that a predator can take
advantage of him.
• Check sources of unexplained gifts given to
your child.
• Remind your child not to allow any touching in
his “swimming suit zone” while playing any
sort of contact sport or game with older children
or adults.
• Activities involving physical contact may precede abusive touching by a predator. Tell your
child not to participate in games involving
handcuffs or other restraints.
• Instruct your child never to accept food or drink
from someone he does not know well.
• Stress to your child the importance of saying
“No” to alcohol and other drugs. Make him
aware of the fact that alcohol is a drug, one that
is illegal for him to use.
Posing as an Internet “Friend”
hildren should be aware that pedophiles and
con artists pose as children or adolescents on
the Internet. They may fabricate facts and situations in order to relate to the child. The perpetrator
learns who a child is and where he is without the
child ever realizing he is communicating with an
adult. Once a child is online, he is able to exchange
information with anyone else who is online.
C
ACTION STEPS:
• Keep your computer in a family room or den, not
in your child’s bedroom.
• Have your child participate in rule setting for
Internet usage.
Intimidation Through Bullying,
Taunting, Teasing
A
predator may use bullying, taunting or
teasing to intimidate children into abusive
situations. This intimidation may occur by
words or with a weapon. Because an adult is
much larger, children may be frightened into
compliance. Bullies
may not always be
adults; they may
also be children who
threaten other children in parks, on
school playgrounds
or even in a victim’s
own neighborhood.
Due to the onset of
school related violence, it is essential
for parents to know
their children’s state of mind. Equally important, parents must also be alert for bullying behaviors exhibited by their children. Either circumstance can lead to troubling or violent behavior.
ACTION STEPS:
• Impress upon your child that threats against
him are wrong and must be reported to the
authorities immediately. Remind him that
any threat to him or from him is wrong.
• Make a plan with your child about what to do
if he is being bullied (e.g., yell or run to the
nearest safe place).
• Be aware of your child’s feelings about school
and interactions with his peer group. If he is
feeling inferior, arrange for counseling in order to find solutions.
• Make an effort to ensure that your child is not
a bully. If you discover this is the case, get to
the root of the behavior and end it before
someone gets hurt.
• Remember that your child has Internet access
away from home and remind him that the rules
apply at every computer, at home or elsewhere.
• Investigate the variety of parental controls, filtering or blocking software and spyware protectors
available.
www.agjimhood.com
Page 5
Online Safety
Do’s and Don’ts For Internet Use
D
espite the dangers already listed, the Internet
is a wonderful resource. More
and more people are going
online to gain knowledge, be
entertained, and to communicate all over the world. Parents should learn as much as
they can about “surfing” the
Internet in order to safeguard
children from harmful contacts and material. It is also
important to be familiar with
instant messaging (“IMing”)
and chat rooms. Know which
chat rooms your child may be
visiting. Also, be aware that
information posted on the
Internet may be uncensored.
Parents and children should
spend some time on the Internet together, so that parents
may give children practical
advice about the advantages
and risks of Internet use.
Education of both parents and
children is one of the best deterrents to child victimization.
Chatroom Safety
• Do talk only to people you know on the Internet.
• Do keep your user profile private.
• Do log off when you are finished chatting.
• Don’t meet anyone in person that you have met
in a chatroom.
• Don’t give out your phone number to anyone you
have met in a chatroom.
Identity Theft
• Do keep your name
and Social Security Number
private.
• Do talk to your parents
about things you see on the
Internet.
• Do keep your home information and location private.
• Don’t share your user ID
and password with anyone.
•
•
•
•
Internet Ethics
Do use the computer to help with your
schoolwork.
Do respect other people’s work saved
on the computer.
Do be nice to your friends online.
Don’t use the Internet to talk to strangers.
Additions to Resource List
Office of the Attorney General: www.agjimhood.com
National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health: www.ncemch.org/alert
The Jason Foundation, Inc.: www.jasonfoundation.com/student.html
The Jason Foundation, Community Assistance Resource Line: 1-877-778-2275
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Consumer Awareness and
Education: 1-800-359-8255
American Council on Alcoholism: 1-800-527-5344
The Betty Ford Center: 1-800-854-9211
The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi: www.healthy-miss.org/partnershipworks
Online Safety: What Parents Should Know
• Learn Internet vocabulary in order to understand
your child’s Internet conversations. (Eg:. “CU”
means “see you” or “CUL8ER” means “see you
later.”) A list of chat abbreviations and their meanings, compiled by the National Center for Missing &
Exploited Children, is included in this guide.
• Remind children that the Internet is a “public” place
and not to write anything there that he would not
want to be public knowledge.
• Teach your child to use proper etiquette. Courtesy
such as showing respect and being polite should be
practiced when online. Children should remember
that the words used online should be words that are
appropriate when talking with someone face to face,
by telephone, etc.
• Make a rule that personal information (i.e. full
Page 6
•
•
•
•
name, age, address, school name, telephone numbers or financial information such as credit card
numbers) is not to be given out when communicating in chat rooms or through e-mail with persons
you do not know.
Never send out family photographs over the Internet to unfamiliar e-mail addresses or to public websites.
Caution your child to ignore scary, threatening or
harassing online messages and to let you know
about them immediately.
Children should be told not to open e-mail attachments from persons unknown or download pictures
from unfamiliar sources.
Tell your child to remember that people he meets
over the Internet may not be who they say they are.
Special Tips for Parents of Teens
Blogging
B
name suggests, really is instant
communication. As soon as a
message is typed and sent, it appears on the screen of the individual to whom it is sent. This very
popular form of communication
among teens has potential dangers as well. Uncertainty about
the identity of those with whom
teens might be talking is a major
disadvantage for parents. Some
services through which teens IM
offer a profile option, allowing
them to enter personal informaChat rooms, considered to be the tion about themselves which can
most dangerous of areas on the be viewed by the public.
Internet, may be especially troublesome for teens. Chat rooms E-mail is more like regular mail in
may be public, with participation that a message is sent to a person
in live global conversations, or and that recipient has the option
private, where only a few partici- of responding. However, e-mail
pate. Adult predators and teens can be sent out to thousands of
use public chat rooms. Teens, of persons at a time, just like a mass
course, have no way of knowing mailing. Teens may be on a mass
that they are communicating with e-mail list and receive mail from
adults. Teens can also be enticed companies or persons they do not
from public chat rooms into pri- even know. They should be
vate ones where there is the po- warned not to open or respond to
tential for harassment and exploi- mail from unknown e-mail adtation by adult predators. They dresses; it may contain links to
also can be exposed to material pornographic or other inapproprithat is sexual, hateful, or violent in ate sites. Teens should also be
nature, or that encourages illegal aware that any e-mail response
sent by them could potentially be
or dangerous activities.
copied or forwarded without their
Instant messaging (IM), as the knowledge or permission.
e aware that teens may be
more at risk of being victimized by predators online than
younger children. This is because
teens may have more frequent,
unsupervised access to the computer. The online discussions in
chat rooms can potentially involve
people from around the world;
there are no limitations. Therefore, teens can form relationships
with a variety of people from a
variety of places.
"blog" (short for "web
log") is an online journal
where people can publish entries about their personal experiences, ideas, and hobbies.
While blogs can be an exciting
outlet for creativity and selfexpression, younger users
should be made aware of the
dangers associated with the use
of popular teen blog sites such
as Xanga.com. Pedophiles often
frequent these sites posing as
teens to start relationships with
would-be victims. It is common
for kids to post pictures of
themselves, their full names,
addresses, the name of their
school, and their extracurricular
activities on their blog sites.
This seemingly harmless information makes it easy for a
predator to locate a child. Parents should talk openly with
their children about on-line
predators in an effort to help
reduce the number of children
who are victimized.
A
Warning Signs That A Child May Be In Danger Online
(Adapted from FBI Publications - A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety)
• The child spends a great
deal of time online, especially at night.
• You find pornography on the child’s computer.
• The child receives telephone calls from adults whom
you do not know or makes telephone calls to numbers that you do not recognize.
• The child receives mail, gifts or packages from persons whom you do not know.
• The child withdraws from normal interaction with
family and friends.
• The child has a noticeable change in behavior, attitudes or beliefs.
• The child has a significant decrease in academic performance.
• The child turns the computer off or quickly changes
the screen when you enter the room.
www.agjimhood.com
Page 7
Checking Your Child’s Internet Activity
(Adapted from the Utah ICAC Task Force’s Publication A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety)
How to review Internet history:
To find out which web sites and pages that your child may have recently viewed while online, click on
the “History” button on your Internet browser. A list of the viewed sites will then drop down.
How to review temporary Internet files:
You can review the temporary Internet sites that your child has accessed by first clicking on the “My
Computer” icon. Next click on the “C” drive and then on the “Windows” folder. Click on the “Temp”
folder and then on the “Temporary Internet Files” folder to access the list.
Child Care Safety
Day-Care Safety
W
hen searching for the
right day-care facility for
your child, a good place to start is
with the recommendations of
family, friends and neighbors.
Parents also can find a listing of
day-care centers licensed by the
Department of Health online at
www.healthyms.com/food/
default.asp or by calling 1-866HLTHY4U (1-866-458-4958). Parents should tour facilities, speak
with the staff, and make a point
to observe the interactions between the children and the staff.
Thankfully, children generally are
safe from exploitation and abuse
ents are acceptable. By law, liwhile in licensed day-care facilicensed day-care operators are
ties. To narrow the choices, parrequired to give parents access
ents may want to consider the
to the facility at all times.
following when choosing a facil- • Be certain that there are no arity:
eas where a child could be isolated.
• Contact references provided by • Confirm that the children are
the facility. Talk with parents of
well supervised by several emchildren already enrolled there.
ployees during their nap times.
• Ask questions about the educa- • Inquire about the facility’s discition and training of the day-care
plinary policies.
employees. Inquire about the • After enrolling your child at a
type of screening process used
facility, take an active role in the
in hiring.
center by volunteering at some
• Ensure that no areas of the facilof the day-care’s activities.
ity are off limits to parents and • Discuss with your child daily
that unexpected visits by parwhat happens at the facility.
P
arents will need a sitter for their children at some point, whether
only for an evening out or all day while the parent is at work.
Because parents want the best possible care for their children, it is advisable to interview several prospective sitters. Be sure that your prospects are mature, experienced, responsible people who truly enjoy children. As with day-care facilities, a good way to find prospective sitters is through the recommendations of family, friends and neighbors. Also, you may want to advertise through local high
schools, churches or other organizations you trust.
Baby-Sitter Safety
After finding a potential sitter, it is wise to:
• Check all references very carefully.
• Verify a sitter’s contact information such as address, telephone
numbers, and other places of employment. If the sitter is not an
adult, ask to meet the sitter’s parents.
• Observe interaction with your child.
• Ask your child if he liked the sitter after their first meeting.
Page 8
M
Myth
Child abusers (pedophiles) can be cured.
Fact
Pedophiles have an incurable mental illness.
They can be treated but not cured.
S
New Neighborhoods
oving to a new neighborhood is a big
change for the whole family, and it is important to establish guidelines for children so that
they will be safe in their new surroundings.
• Teach your child his new address and telephone
number.
• Check the state sex offender registry to determine whether there are registered sexual offenders living nearby. In Mississippi this can be done
by
visiting
www.mdps.state.ms.us,
www.familywatchdog.us
or
www.ago.state.ms.us.
• Be sure that your child knows how to get to certain locations in the new neighborhood, such as
the bus stop or a new school.
• Remind your child that he must always check
with you before going anywhere with new
friends.
• Make a point of meeting new neighbors and
their families.
After School Safety
ince more parents are working full-time outside
of the home, more children are coming home
alone after school and staying there until a parent
returns from work. Consider these factors before
allowing your child to stay home alone after school:
• Determine whether there is a community after
school program available for your child.
• Let your child tell you how he feels about being at
home alone.
• Decide whether you think your child is responsible
enough to be home alone for a specified amount of
time.
When your child is to be left home alone after
school, be sure to have in place:
• Specific instructions on how to contact you or another trusted adult.
• Defined rules to be followed until you get home,
such as homework, chores, and TV watching
schedules.
• An identified neighbor’s house as a safe place to go
if your child becomes frightened.
• A list of telephone numbers your child might need
while alone, including numbers for police, fire de-
partment, doctor, poison-control center, etc.
• The names of “safe people” or “safe places” if you
live in an apartment building.
Other possible guidelines:
• Remind your child to check the house before entering. He should look for broken windows, open
doors, etc. If he finds these types of things, instruct
the child not to enter but to go to the nearest safe
neighbor’s house to call you and the police.
• Instruct your child to call you immediately to let
you know that he is safely home with doors
locked.
• Discuss with your child the places he is allowed to
go in the neighborhood, and who may visit when
you are not home.
• Instruct your child not to open the door when you
are gone unless it is for someone you have arranged to be there.
• Decide with your child what he will say to callers
when you are not home.
www.agjimhood.com
Page 9
Runaway Children
Why a Child May Run Away
• A family crisis such as divorce, separation,
•
•
•
•
•
or death
Desire for freedom and a “hassle-free” life,
without parents
Fear of punishment
Feeling that parents expect too much of
him/her
Only option for handling problems
Forced to leave by parent
Signs that a Child
May Be Thinking of Running Away
• Changes in behavior patterns: isolation, frequent sleeping, not eating,
changes in friends
• Rebellious behavior such as being argumentative, getting lower grades,
breaking rules at home and school
• Threats of running away
•Accumulation of money or possessions
If your child is lost or missing
I
f you become certain that your
child is lost or missing, several
steps should be taken immediately.
• Call your local law enforcement
agency. Mississippi now has an
Amber Alert System managed
by the Mississippi Department
of Public Safety. If a child is
missing, a local law enforcement
agency can make a report to the
Department of Public Safety
which will then issue an Amber
Alert if the required criteria are
met. Visit the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s website at www.dps.state.ms.us for
the requirements for an Amber
Alert.
P
•
•
•
•
•
Page 10
• Search your home and its vicin•
•
•
•
•
ity.
Call neighbors, family and
friends and keep a list of whom
you have contacted.
Check all locations your child
frequents.
Search your child’s room, school
locker, desk, and computer for
clues to where he may have
gone.
Call area hospitals and transportation terminals.
Contact the National Center for
Missing & Exploited Children’s
24-hour hotline, 1-800-THELOST.
Prevention Tips
• Listen to your child. (If
•
•
•
•
you think that he is
considering running
away, encourage him
to discuss his feelings
with you.)
Provide accurate information about sex, alcohol and other drugs;
don’t lecture.
Encourage responsible
decision making by
your child.
Encourage your child
and help to build his
self-esteem.
Seek professional help,
if necessary.
How to Stay Prepared in the Event that a Child is Lost or Missing
arents can take steps now to help locate their child in the event he or she becomes
lost or is missing.
Keep updated photographs and descriptive information of your child.
Ensure that your dentist has up-to-date records on your child.
Pediatricians should have updated records, including notations of scars, birthmarks,
broken bones, and medical needs.
Have your child fingerprinted at your local police department.
Consider getting a DNA sample from your child. Commercial collection kits are available for parents. Learn ways to collect DNA from your child through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website at www.missingkids.com.
Myth
Most children are
abused by strangers.
Fact
The majority of children
either know
or are related
to their abuser.
Indicators of
Substance Abuse
In Adolescents
Safety When Shopping
With Children
E
ven though parents
never intend to get
separated from their children in public, it happens. These guidelines
may be helpful.
• Instruct your child to
stay with you at all
times.
• Tell your child that he
should get the help of a
“safe person” such as a
security guard or store
employee if separated
from you in public.
• Always accompany
children to public restrooms.
• Do not leave children
alone at theaters, arcades or stores.
I
t is essential to remember that
many of the symptoms of substance abuse are common characteristics of young people, especially in adolescence. This means
extreme caution must be exercised to avoid misidentifying and
inappropriately stigmatizing a
youngster. Never overestimate
the significance of a few indicators. The guidelines describe
warning signs of substance use
disorders for adolescents.
The type of indicators usually identified are:
• a prevailing pattern of unusual and excessive behaviors and moods, and/or
• recent dramatic changes in
behavior and mood.
Parents and school staff need to watch for
• poor school performance; skipping or ditching
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
school
inability to cope well with daily events
lack of attention to hygiene, grooming, and dress
long periods alone in bedroom/bathroom apparently
doing nothing
extreme defensiveness; negative attitudes; dissatisfied about most things; argumentative
frequent conflicts with others; verbally/physically
abusive
withdrawal from long-time friends/family/activities
disregard for others; extreme egocentricity
taking up with new friends who may be drug users
unusual tension or depressed states
• seems frequently confused and “spacey”
• often drowsy
• general unresponsiveness to what’s going on
•
•
•
•
•
•
(seems “turned off”)
increasing need for money; disappearance of possessions (e.g., perhaps sold to buy drugs); stealing/
shoplifting
excessive efforts to mislead (lying, conning, untrustworthy, insincere)
stooped appearance and posture
dull or watery eyes; dilated or pinpoint pupils
sniffles; runny nose
overt indicators of substance abuse (e.g., drug
equipment, needle marks)
www.agjimhood.com
Page 11
Common Symptoms of Drug Use
Shortly after a person has taken illegal drugs, he or she may experience mood and behavioral swings.
The person may go from a state of euphoria, experiencing a period of unusual activity and/or excessive talking, to a tendency to appear serene, followed by a swing toward a depressed state and withdrawal. Sometimes the individual will stare, glassy-like, at one thing for a long time. Listed on the
next two pages are a few symptoms commonly found in people who abuse various drugs.
Amphetamines (stimulants)
•
•
•
•
Excessive activity
Rapid speech
Fatigue
Disorientation and confusion
• Irritability
•
•
•
•
Appetite loss
• Increased blood pressure
and body temperature
Anxiety
•
Increased respiration
Extreme moods and shifts
Erratic eating and sleeping • Increased and irregular
pulse
patterns
• Tremors
Cocaine (stimulant, anesthetic)
• Short-lived euphoria followed by •
depression
•
• Nervousness and anxiety
•
• Irritability
•
Shallow breathing
Fever
Tremors
Tightening muscles
Inhalants
•
•
•
•
Euphoria
Intoxicated look
Odors
Nausea
•
•
•
•
Drowsiness
Stupor
Headaches
Fainting
•
•
•
•
Poor muscle control
Rapid heartbeat
Anemia
Choking
Myth
Child abusers look a certain way; they are persons
to whom parents would not let children have access.
Fact
Child abusers can be anyone of any age. There is no way to tell who abusers
are by their age, looks, or jobs. Since a pedophile’s illness
manifests itself during adolescence,
it could be years before he or she commits any type of pedophilic act.
Page 12
Cannabinoids (e.g. marijuana, hash, THC)
• Increased appetite initially
• Decreased appetite with
• Decreased concentration
• Altered sense of time and
chronic use
• Euphoria
• Decreased motivation for
many activities
• Apathy, passivity
space
Inappropriate laughter
Rapid flow of ideas
Anxiety; panic
Irritability, restlessness
•
•
•
•
• Decreased motor skill coordi•
•
•
•
nation
Characteristic odor on breath
and clothes
Increased pulse rate
Droopy, bloodshot eyes
Irregular menses
Narcotics
(e.g., opium, heroin, morphine, codeine, methadone, and other pain killers)
•
•
•
•
•
Extreme mood swings
Poor concentration
Confusion
Insensitivity to pain
Drowsiness / decreased
respiration
• Slow, shallow breathing • Decreased blood pressure
• Itchiness
• Watery eyes / pinpoint • Possible needle marks
pupils
• As drug wears off, nausea and runny nose
• Lethargy
• Weight loss
Barbiturates, Sedatives, Tranquilizers
(CNS depressants)
•
•
•
•
Decreased alertness
Intoxicated look
Drowsy
Decreased motor coordination
• Slurred speech
• Erratic eating and sleep- •
ing patterns
•
• Dizzy
•
• Cold, clammy skin
•
• Decreased respiration •
and pulse
Dilated pupils
Confused
Extreme mood swings
Depressed mood state
Dis-inhibition
Hallucinogens
(effecting perceptions; e.g. PCP, LSD, mescaline)
• Extreme mood alteration and
intensification
• Altered perceptions of time,
space sights, sounds, colors
• Loss of sense of time, place,
person
• Decreased communication
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Panic and anxiety
Paranoia
Extreme, unstable behaviors
Restlessness
Tremors
Nausea
Flashbacks
•
•
•
•
•
•
Increased blood pressure
Impaired speech
Impaired motor coordination
Decreased response to pain
Watery eyes
Motor agitation
Information obtained from the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health: www.ncemch.org/alert
www.agjimhood.com
Page 13
Youth Suicide
• Suicide ranks as the THIRD leading cause of death for ages 15 - 24 and FOURTH for ages 10 - 14.
• Suicide is the SECOND leading cause of death for college age youth, as well as for ages 15 to 19 in
many states.
• The United States Department of Health in 2000 reported that over ONE Million youths attempted
suicide in the U.S. That equates to over 2700 attempts each day in our nation by youths ages 12 to
17.
• More teenagers and young adults have died of suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth
defects, stroke, pneumonia and influenza, and chronic lung disease COMBINED.
Signs That Your Child May Be Considering Suicide
• Talking about suicide
• Making statements about feeling helpless,
hopeless, or worthless
• A deepening depression
• Preoccupation with death
• Taking unnecessary risks or exhibiting self destructive behavior
•
•
•
•
Out of character behavior
A loss of interest in things once cared about
Visiting or calling the people important to him
Making arrangements; setting personal affairs
in order
• Giving prized possessions away
Watch and listen to your children and pay attention to sudden
changes in behavior that cause you concern.
B
e willing to seek professional help and guidance if you feel your child is becoming depressed or contemplating hurting himself/herself.
T
alk openly and honestly with your
child or your child’s friends about
your concerns and be supportive in
helping them cope with their feelings.
Page 14
Early Warning Signs of A Potentially Violent Child
W
hy didn’t we see it
coming? In the wake
of violence, this question is
pondered not so much to
blame, but to understand better what can be done to prevent such an occurrence from
happening again. The days
leading up to the incident are
mentally reviewed over and
over. Did the child say or do
anything that would have
given the parent signs of the
impending crisis? Was an opportunity to help missed somehow? In most cases of violence
to self and others, early warning signs are typical. These are
behavioral and emotional signs
that, when viewed in context,
can signal a troubled child. But
early warning signs are just
that – indicators that a child
may need help. Such signs may
or may not indicate a serious
problem – they do not necessarily mean that the child is
prone to violent behavior.
Rather, early warning signs
provide the impetus to check
out concerns and address the
child’s needs. Early warning
signs allow parents to act responsibly by getting help for
the child before problems escalate.
Risk Factors in the Development of Violent Behavior:
• Previous aggressive or violent behavior
• Being the victim of physical abuse and/or sexual
• Presence of firearms in the home
• Combination of stressful family socioeconomic
abuse
• Exposure to violence in the home and/or community
•
• Genetic (family heredity) factors
• Use of drugs and/or alcohol
factors (poverty, severe deprivation, marital
breakup, single parenting, unemployment, loss of
support from extended family)
Brain damage from head injury
Mississippi (and the rest of the nation) is experiencing increased incidences of violent behavior
among children and adolescents. This complex and troubling issue needs to be carefully understood by parents, teachers, and other adults.
Children as young as preschoolers can show violent behavior. Parents and other adults who
witness the behavior typically express concern but often hope that the young child will “grow
out of it.” Violent behavior in a child at any age always needs to be taken seriously. It should
not be quickly dismissed as “Just a phase they’re going through!”
Examples of Potential Violence or Violent Acts
• Fighting in school with peers or bullying
• Disrespectful to teachers and other authority figures
• Poor grades (Due to inattention if under
stress or inattention due to exhaustion)
• Shoplifting
• Vandalizing or destroying objects (either
•
•
•
•
•
personal belongings or those of others)
Running away
Aggressive behaviors such as hitting, biting, kicking, etc.
Abuse of a parent or sibling
Swearing, verbal abuse, threats
Pushing safety limits with self and others
www.agjimhood.com
Page 15
How to Talk to Your Kids About Drinking
I
deally, you should begin talking with your children about alcohol when they are young. “Prime Time” is between ages 9 and 11, but it’s never too late or too early to open the lines of communication on the subject of
drinking. The following are suggested guidelines for communicating with your kids about drinking.
Be a Good Role Model - Children are keen observers. They
know a lot more about you than
you may think, so your drinking
behavior and attitudes are being
communicated to them. Actions
speak louder than words, and the
example you set will have great
influence on your kids. If you
drink, make it a normal part of
your life, as most adults do.
Don’t overdo it or place too
much emphasis on drinking.
Be Factual - Young people are better equipped to make
proper decisions about any issue, including drinking, if
they have the facts. Trying to scare them about drinking
or presenting alcohol or drinking as evil may backfire.
That’s partly because children have many sources of information, and exaggeration about unfounded stories can
damage parents’ credibility.
• From a medical standpoint, alcohol is a depressant that,
when consumed in excess, results in intoxication and
loss of control, along with impaired coordination, reflexes and judgment. Alcohol abuse has many welldocumented risks, a primary one being drunk driving
and its consequences.
• Many factors influence the way alcohol is metabolized
by the body, including a person’s height, weight and
whether or not he or she has eaten food. It is a myth
that black coffee or a cold shower or anything else will
sober up a drunk person. Only time brings sobriety.
• According to experts, young people lack the judgment,
experience and coordination to drink alcoholic beverages. Their smaller size means that smaller amounts of
alcoholic beverages can be intoxicating. Even for
teens who may be “grown-up” in size, their bodies are
still developing.
Practice Good Parenting - Many of the things that
parents can do to help their children avoid drinking may seem to have little to do with the subject,
but they are very important. Several of these go
hand-in-hand:
•
•
•
•
Help your child feel good about himself/herself.
Create an atmosphere of open communication.
Be an active family.
Teach problem-solving and responsible decision
-making skills.
How and When to Talk
• When you share information with your son or daughter about why he or she shouldn’t drink, it’s important to
do so matter-of-factly.
• Telling teens “You can’t handle it” may come across to them as a dare or cause them to rebel.
• Children 9 to 11 years old are at an ideal age range for discussing the implications of drinking. A child with a
question about drinking is probably most receptive to discussion. Even if a child does not have a question,
parents should bring up the topic in brief “learning moments” that may grow naturally into longer discussions.
A newspaper or television story, a family occasion that includes drinking by adults or a school discussion may
be a good reason for opening the dialogue.
• While many schools today incorporate lessons on alcohol, no one has greater authority or responsibility for
children than parents. Most importantly, no one has more influence on children’s drinking decisions than parents.
Page 16
Have Clearly Stated Rules
a meaningful conversation with your child about
While children need facts, they also need their par- drinking.
ents’ opinions to help the facts make sense. Which
facts are important? And why? Parents need to an- For teens, it is particularly important to discuss the
swer these questions. Once children hear both the rules when it comes to drinking and driving. The
facts and your opinions and beliefs about them, it be- rules are simple: no drinking, no driving after drinkcomes easier for you to make rules and enforce them. ing and no getting into a car with a drinking driver,
Simply saying, “Drinking is bad for you, and I don’t whether the driver is a teen or an adult.
ever want to catch you doing it or you’ll be in big
trouble” is not enough.
Once a parent has asked a child to obey the law and
the family rules regarding underage drinking, there
Take a moment to answer these questions for yourself: should be a clear understanding of the consequences
• If you are drinking, what are the positive reasons of not following them. For instance, your daughter
caught breaking a rule about drinking should know
you have for drinking responsibly?
• What are your own family traditions about drink- with certainty that a second violation, such as driving
after drinking, could be fatal to her or her friends.
ing?
• What are your opinions about drinking by others?
Parents often punish teens by taking away privileges,
• What do you feel is appropriate concerning drinkbut another effective technique is to impose an undesirable task, such as cleaning out the garage or pulling
weeds in the garden. It is often better to earn one’s
way back into favor by doing something constructive
Thinking through these questions will help you have
than by having privileges taken away.
ing, and what is inappropriate?
• What is appropriate behavior for your child?
Get Help If You Need It – Sometimes even the most
vigilant efforts of parents are not enough to prevent
alcohol abuse by young people. If that is the case, the
best thing to do is to seek professional advice immediately. Your family physician or pediatrician is an excellent source of help. Other resources include your
minister, priest or rabbi, school guidance counselor or
social worker. Treatment for alcohol abuse is available
in virtually every community, often through corporate
employee assistance programs. The American Council on Alcoholism (800-527-5344), the Betty Ford Center (800-854-9211) and Al-Anon or Alcoholics Anonymous (which welcomes teens into its meetings) also
can provide help.
Know Your Children’s Friends and Their Parents - Parents can teach their children the meaning of
real friendship and how to make true friends. You also
should know the parents of your children’s friends.
Learning about other families’ values and rules will
help you monitor your own children. Parents can encourage kids to think for themselves - to be self-reliant
and independent - and to recognize the times when
they should do what their friends do and the times
when they should stand alone and do what they think
is right. These will be good lessons for life that will
apply to many issues.
lying, unwillingness to communicate.
• Depression, loss of interest in usual hobbies or acFinding out that your teen has illegally consumed altivities, excessive mood swings.
cohol or been drunk once doesn’t mean your child is
•
A new set of friends who you feel may be inclined
an alcoholic. However, you should focus strongly on
to drink alcohol beverages.
this issue to eliminate future episodes. If repeated episodes occur, or if you are concerned about the possi- • Financial problems or unexplained accidents or injuries.
bility of alcohol abuse by a preteen or teen, experts
have identified a number of signs that may indicate
Remember that children are constantly changing, and
trouble:
• A significant decrease in school performance, such there may be other explanations for a sudden change
as low grades, failed exams or increased absentee- in behavior. But don’t wait to take action. For the
sake of your child, seek professional help immediism.
ately.
• Withdrawal from family activities, secretiveness,
(Information obtained from Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Consumer Awareness and Education)
www.agjimhood.com
Page 17
Tobacco Use By Teens
Tobacco’s Toll on Our People
he simple truth is, tobaccorelated illness is the number one
cause of preventable death in the
world. This is a fact that hits home in
Mississippi. But tobacco's toll doesn't
stop with lives taken. Tobacco makes
a significant economic impact in both
public and private sectors in Mississippi, not to mention lowering the
quality of life of thousands of citizens.
Listed here are just a few reasons The
Partnership strives to help prevent
tobacco use in our state.
1. Tobacco-related illnesses claim the lives of 4,700 Mississippians every year.
2. Tobacco use by pregnant women is a leading cause of
low birth-weight infants.
3. Cigarette smoking doubles the likelihood of a stroke.
4. Teens who smoke are 3-times more likely than nonsmokers to use alcohol, 8-times more likely to use
marijuana, and 22-times more likely to use cocaine.
5. Cigarette smokers are up to four times more likely to
develop coronary heart disease than nonsmokers.
6. Exposure to secondhand smoke has been shown to
hamper cognitive development in children.
T
Tobacco's Impact to Mississippi Taxpayers
• Treatment of tobacco-related illness costs the Mississippi Health-
The Partnership for a Healthy
Mississippi’s comprehensive
tobacco-prevention programs
are making an impact.
care System $650 million each year.
• Treatment of tobacco-related illness costs the state's taxpayersupported Medicaid program $243 million each year.
• For every individual Mississippian who pays taxes, $528 of your
money goes to Medicaid to pay to treat tobacco related illness in
the state.
• Tobacco use is linked to $1.39 billion in lost worker productivity
annually in the state.
IMPACT
From 1999-2004, relative percentage decreases for current smoking
are:
• 32% among public high school
students
• 48% among public middle
Through youth prevention programs, The Partnership is conservatively projected to save the state of Mississippi more than $400 million in long-term smoking-related health care costs.
school students
• 42% among private high school
students
Public health experts say the state will save lives by reducing
smoking-caused deaths, which currently total 4,900 each year in
Mississippi, and save money by reducing smoking-caused health
From 2000-2004, the relative percentage decrease for current
smoking among private middle
school students is 42%.
The Partnership’s funding is based on the guidelines for CDC’s “Best Practices” model. $20
million is set aside from the state’s tobacco settlement to fund:
•Tobacco prevention programs for all ages. These programs include community and schoolbased activities:
• RAT (Reject All Tobacco) for K-3rd grades: Over 21,000 members throughout Mississippi
• SWAT (Students Working Against Tobacco) for 4th-6th grades: Nearly 22,000 members
across the state
• FREE (7th & 8th graders): Nearly 10,000 members across the state
• Frontline (9th-12th graders): Over 8,000 members across the state
Page 18
Resources
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mississippi
Jackson……………………………………………………………………………….……………..601-961-9286
e-mail………………………………………………………………………….………….….www.bbbsms.org
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
e-mail………………………………………………………………………….…...…………….www.bgca.org
Catholic Charities
Jackson………………………………………………………………………………….…...…….601-355-8634
Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse
Gulfport………………………………………………………………………….……….…...…..228-868-8686
Hattiesburg…………………………………………………………………………….……..…..601-545-6680
Child Abuse Hotline
Jackson………………………………………………………………………….…………...….1-800-222-8000
Child Abuse Exchange Club
Child Abuse……………………………………………………………………...……….……...601-366-0025
Prevention – Intervention
The Jason Foundation, Inc. (Help Hotline)…………………………………………….……………...1-800-SUICIDE
Jackson………………………………………………………………………….……Direct Line 601-936-2024
Toll Free 1-877-778-2275
Meridian……………………………………………………………………………..Direct Line 601-483-6211
Toll Free 1-877-778-2275
Jackson Rape Crisis Center
Toll-Free………………………………………………………………………...………...……..1-800-273-9012
** RESPECT classes for schools to prevent sexual assault
Southern Christian Services
Jackson………………………………………………………………………….……….…….…..601-354-0983
South MS Child Advocacy Center
Pascagoula………………………………………………………………………….……..……...228-769-1343
Bay St. Louis…………….………………………………………………………...……..……….228-463-0000
Laurel………………………………………………………………………………...……..….….601-428-8898
Southwest MS Children’s Advocacy Center
McComb……………………………………………………………………………….…….…...601-648-4009
Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi
Oxford……………………………………………………………………………...……………..662-234-9929
Toll-Free…………………………………………………………………………...….……......1-800-230-9929
Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC)
e-mail……………………………………………………………………………….…...………..www.ojp.gov
www.agjimhood.com
Page 19
Child Abuse Hotline
Jackson ............................................................................................................................................. 601-359-4991
Toll-Free ........................................................................................................................................ 1-800-222-8000
Local health departments provide medical care for qualified individuals, family intervention and counseling
referrals
Toll-Free ...................................................................................................... 1-866-HLTHY4U (1-866-458-4958)
e-mail................................................................................................................................. www.healthyms.com
Mississippi Attorney General’s Office
Jackson ............................................................................................................................................. 601-359-3680
e-mail................................................................................................................................. www.ago.state.ms.us
Cyber Crime Website ......................................................www.ago.state.ms.us/divisions/pid/cybercrime
Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Jackson ............................................................................................................................................. 601-948-0555
Mississippi Children’s Advocacy Center
Jackson ............................................................................................................................................. 601-969-7111
Mississippi Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse (Stranger Danger presentations to schools)
Jackson ............................................................................................................................................. 601-664-9081
Mississippi Department of Human Services
Toll-Free ........................................................................................................................................ 1-800-345-6347
Mississippi Department of Public Safety
Jackson ............................................................................................................................................. 601-987-1530
e-mail................................................................................................................................. www.dps.state.ms.us
Mississippi Families for Kids (Helps locate appropriate child care)
Jackson ............................................................................................................................................. 601-360-0591
Our House (A shelter for runaway and homeless youths)
Jackson ............................................................................................................................................. 601-355-0161
Toll-Free ........................................................................................................................................ 1-800-273-7714
Vicksburg Child Abuse Prevention Center
Warren County ............................................................................................................................... 601-634-0557
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
e-mail................................................................................................................................................ www.fbi.gov
Parents’ Guide to Internet Safety
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
e-mail.............................................................................................................................. www.missingkids.com
24 hour hotline ......................................................................................................................... 1-800-THE-LOST
Kid matters on the web................................................................................................. www.healthykids.com
*Netsmartz Workshop .......................................................................................................www.netsmartz.org
United States Internet Crime Task Force
e-mail(s) ........................................................................................................................................ www.usict.org
www.webwisekids.com
Page 20
*The Netsmartz Workshop listed on page 20 is an interactive, online, educational safety resource from the National
Center for Missing & Exploited Children and Boys & Girls Clubs of America that teaches children how to stay safer
on the Internet. The goal of the Netsmartz Workshop is to extend the safety awareness of children to prevent victimization and increase self-confidence when they go online.
The list of organizations and groups on the previous pages has been compiled solely as a reference source. This listing is not intended to be a comprehensive reference source, and the Office of the Attorney General does not endorse
any specific provider(s).
Unless noted herein, all information was compiled from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children website.
Chat Abbreviations
121 ............................................................................................................................................................................. .one to one
F2F ............................................................................................................................................................................. face to face
AFAIK ............................................................................................................................................................... as far as I know
FAQ ................................................................................................................................................. frequently asked question
AFK .......................................................................................................................................................... away from keyboard
FC ....................................................................................................................................................................... fingers crossed
AKA ..................................................................................................................................................................... also known as
FISH ................................................................................................................................................................. first in, still here
ARE ............................................................................................................................................... acronym-rich environment
FMTYEWTK........................................................................................................... far more than you ever wanted to know
ASAP ............................................................................................................................................................ as soon as possible
FOMCL ...................................................................................................................................... falling off my chair laughing
A/S/L? ........................................................................................................................................................... age, sex, location
FTBOMH .................................................................................................................................... from the bottom of my heart
B4 ........................................................................................................................................................................................before
FUD ..............................................................................................................................................fear, uncertainty, and doubt
B4N ...........................................................................................................................................................................bye for now
FWIW ........................................................................................................................................................... for what it’s worth
BAK .......................................................................................................................................................... back at the keyboard
FYI ............................................................................................................................................................ for your information
BBIAB ................................................................................................................................................................. be back in a bit
GA ................................................................................................................................................................................. go ahead
BBL ..........................................................................................................................................................................be back later
GAL ................................................................................................................................................................................ get a life
BBML ...........................................................................................................................................................be back much later
GD$R ...................................................................................................................................... grinning, ducking and running
BBN ........................................................................................................................................................................ bye bye now
GF ................................................................................................................................................................................ girl friend
BBS ......................................................................................................................................................................... be back soon
GFN ....................................................................................................................................................................... gone for now
BEG ......................................................................................................................................................................... big evil grin
GIWIST ................................................................................................................................................ gee, I wish I’d said that
BF ................................................................................................................................................................................ boy friend
GMBO ....................................................................................................................................................... giggling my butt off
BFN ..........................................................................................................................................................................bye for now
GMTA .................................................................................................................................................. great minds think alike
BG .................................................................................................................................................................................... big grin
www.agjimhood.com
Page 21
Chat Abbreviations
DLTBBB .......................................................................................................................................... don’t let the bed bugs bite
IMO ...................................................................................................................................................................... in my opinion
DQMOT ................................................................................................................................................ don’t quote me on this
IOW ..................................................................................................................................................................... in other words
EG ................................................................................................................................................................................... evil grin
IPN ................................................................................................................................................................ I’m posting naked
EMFBI ................................................................................................................................................ excuse me for butting in
IRL ............................................................................................................................................................................... in real life
EOM ................................................................................................................................................................... end of message
IWALU .................................................................................................................................................. I will always love you
EOT ....................................................................................................................................................................... end of thread
IYSWIM ................................................................................................................................................ if you see what I mean
JBOD ......................................................................................................................................................... just a bunch of disks
PAL ........................................................................................................................................................... parents are listening
JIC ............................................................................................................................................................................... just in case
PANB ........................................................................................................................................................... parents are nearby
JK .............................................................................................................................................................................. just kidding
PANS .............................................................................................................................................. pretty awesome new stuff
LTR ......................................................................................................................................................... long term relationship
SNERT ........................................................................................................................... snot nosed egotistical rude teenager
LTS .....................................................................................................................................................................laughing to self
SO ..................................................................................................................................................................... significant other
LYLAB .................................................................................................................................................. love you like a brother
SOMY.................................................................................................................................................................. sick of me yet?
LULAS ...................................................................................................................................................... love you like a sister
SOT......................................................................................................................................................................... short of time
LUWAMH..................................................................................................................................... love you with all my heart
SOTMG .................................................................................................................................................. short of time, must go
JMO ............................................................................................................................................................... just in my opinion
PDA ................................................................................................................................................. public display of affection
JTLYK......................................................................................................................................................... just to let you know
PDS ................................................................................................................................................................ please don’t shoot
JW ....................................................................................................................................................................... just wondering
PLZ ..................................................................................................................................................................................... please
K ........................................................................................................................................................................................... okay
PM .................................................................................................................................................................... private message
KIT......................................................................................................................................................................... keep in touch
PMFJIB .................................................................................................................................. pardon me for jumping in but...
KOC .......................................................................................................................................................................kiss on cheek
PMP ..................................................................................................................................................................... peed my pants
KOL ........................................................................................................................................................................... kiss on lips
POAHF ...................................................................................................................................................... put on a happy face
KWIM ........................................................................................................................................................ know what I mean?
POS......................................................................................................................................................... parents over shoulder
L2M ................................................................................................................................................................ listening to music
POTS ..............................................................................................................................................plain old telephone service
L8R ........................................................................................................................................................................................ later
PU ................................................................................................................................................................................that stinks
LD ............................................................................................................................................................................... later, dude
QSL.......................................................................................................................................................................................reply
LDR ................................................................................................................................................. long distance relationship
Page 22
Chat Abbreviations
QSO ........................................................................................................................................................................ conversation
LHM ....................................................................................................................................................................... lord help me
QT ......................................................................................................................................................................................... cutie
LHU..........................................................................................................................................................................lord help us
RL .....................................................................................................................................................................................real life
ROL ................................................................................................................................................................... raffing out loud
MIRL ......................................................................................................................................................... let’s meet in real life
ROTFL......................................................................................................................................... rolling on the floor laughing
LMSO ..................................................................................................................................................... laughing my socks off
RPG ............................................................................................................................................................. role playing games
LOL ............................................................................................................................................................... laughing out loud
RSN ...................................................................................................................................................................... real soon now
LRF ...................................................................................................................................................................... like rubber fee
RYO .......................................................................................................................................................................roll your own
S4L ............................................................................................................................................................................... set for life
LSHMBH ............................................................................................................................. laughing so hard my belly hurts
SETE ............................................................................................................................................................... smiling ear to ear
SF ......................................................................................................................................................................... surfer friendly
LTM ................................................................................................................................................................... laugh to myself
SHCOON......................................................................................................................................shoot hot coffee out of nose
LTNS ............................................................................................................................................................... long time, no see
SHID......................................................................................................................................................... slaps head in disgust
LY .................................................................................................................................................................................. love you
STW .....................................................................................................................................................................search the web
M/F ..................................................................................................................................................................... male or female
SUP or WU ................................................................................................................................................................. what’s up
MOSS……………………………………………………………………………………………….…….member of same sex
SWAK ............................................................................................................................................................ sealed with a kiss
MOTOS ........................................................................................................................................ member of the opposite sex
SWL .................................................................................................................................................... screaming with laughter
MSG................................................................................................................................................................................ message
SYS.......................................................................................................................................................................... see you soon
MTF ..................................................................................................................................................................... more to follow
TA ........................................................................................................................................................................... thanks again
MUSM ........................................................................................................................................................... miss you so much
TAFN .............................................................................................................................................................. that’s all for now
NADT .............................................................................................................................................................. not a darn thing
TAW ....................................................................................................................................................... teachers are watching
NIFOC..................................................................................................................................... naked in front of the computer
TCOB..................................................................................................................................................... taking care of business
NP ........................................................................................................................................................................... nosy parents
TCOY ....................................................................................................................................................... .take care of yourself
N/P .......................................................................................................................................................................... no problem
TFH .................................................................................................................................................................. thread from hell
NRN ............................................................................................................................................................. no reply necessary
TGIF ........................................................................................................................................................ thank God it’s Friday
OIC .................................................................................................................................................................................. oh I see
THX ................................................................................................................................................................................... thanks
OL ................................................................................................................................................................................... old lady
TIA................................................................................................................................................................. thanks in advance
OLL ........................................................................................................................................................................... online love
www.agjimhood.com
Page 23
Chat Abbreviations
GOL ................................................................................................................................................................ giggling out loud
BL ........................................................................................................................................................................ belly laughing
GTRM ........................................................................................................................................................... going to read mail
BRB ......................................................................................................................................................................... be right back
GTSY .................................................................................................................................................................. glad to see you
BTA .................................................................................................................................................................... .but then again
H&K .................................................................................................................................................................. hugs and kisses
BTW .......................................................................................................................................................................... by the way
HAGN........................................................................................................................................................... have a good night
BWL ...................................................................................................................................................... bursting with laughter
HHIS .................................................................................................................................................... hanging head in shame
BWTHDIK ................................................................................................................................. but what the heck do I know
HTH ................................................................................................................................................................... hope this helps
C&G ................................................................................................................................................................ chuckle and grin
IAC .............................................................................................................................................................................in any case
CID ................................................................................................................................................................ crying in disgrace
IAE .......................................................................................................................................................................... in any event
CNP .............................................................................................................................................. continued (in my) next post
IANAL ..................................................................................................................................................I am not a lawyer (but)
CP .................................................................................................................................................................................. chat post
IC ........................................................................................................................................................................................... I see
CRBT .......................................................................................................................................................... crying real big tears
IDK ......................................................................................................................................................................... I don’t know
CSG ..........................................................................................................................................................chuckle, snicker, grin
IHA.................................................................................................................................................................... I hate acronyms
CU ....................................................................................................................................................................................see you
IIRC .......................................................................................................................................................if I remember correctly
CUL OR CUL8ER .................................................................................................................................................. see you later
ILU .............................................................................................................................................................................. I love you
CUZ ................................................................................................................................................................................. because
IM ...................................................................................................................................................................... instant message
CYO ......................................................................................................................................................................see you online
IMHO .....................................................................................................................................................in my humble opinion
DIKU ................................................................................................................................................................. do I know you?
Iming ......................................................................................................................................... chatting with someone online
DL ................................................................................................................................................................................ dead link
IMNSHO ................................................................................................................................... in my not so humble opinion
TILIS...................................................................................................................................................................... tell it like it is
OM ................................................................................................................................................................................. old man
TLK2UL8R ....................................................................................................................................................... talk to you later
OMG .......................................................................................................................................................................... oh my god
TNT ........................................................................................................................................................................‘till next time
OTF .......................................................................................................................................................................... off the floor
TOPC .......................................................................................................................................................... ‘till our paths cross
OTOH ............................................................................................................................................................on the other hand
TOY .................................................................................................................................................................... thinking of you
OTTOMH ................................................................................................................................................. off the top of my hat
TPTB............................................................................................................................................................. the powers that be
LLTA ............................................................................................................................. lots and lots of thunderous applause
LSHMBB .............................................................................................................................. laughing so hard my belly hurts
LSHTTARDML................................................................................ laughing so hard the tears are running down my leg
Page 24
Guide to Child Safety: A Parent’s Plan

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