CTF, along with partners Missouri KidsFirst and ParentLink, have been welcoming visitors to the Missouri State Fair's Family Fun Center. There, they have the opportunity to spread their messages about child abuse prevention, Internet safety, and healthy families. The video features Missouri KidsFirst's Cherisse Thibaut explaining why the fair is a great place to connect with the people they want to reach.

The Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) and the Children’s Trust Fund have joined forces to remind parents and caregivers that children should never be left alone in a car – not even for a minute.

MODOT has placed posters supporting CTF’s Not Even for a Minute public-awareness campaign in its 28 rest area locations in Missouri.  The campaign encourages parents and caregivers not to leave children alone in or around vehicles.  Left alone in a vehicle, even for a short time, a child is in danger of dehydration, injury, abduction or death. This important message will also scroll across approximately 66 electronic message boards along Interstates 70, 44, 55, 29 and 35 and on U.S. Route 60, through the end of August.

“We all know how hot Missouri summers can be, but regardless of the temperature it is never a good idea to leave children alone in and around vehicles,” said Kirk Schreiber, CTF executive director.  “The inside of a car can heat up to extreme and dangerous temperatures very quickly and result in tragedy for children within minutes.  CTF is very appreciative of MODOT helping us reach more people with this important safety message.”

AUDIO: MoDOT Community Relations Manager Sally_Oxenhandler

View Press Release

CTF NEFAM Radio PSA

According to Safe Kids USA from 1998 to 2009, 443 children died from heat stroke while unattended in a car, and 88 percent of children who die from heat stroke are ages three and younger. On days when the temperature exceeds 86˚F, the internal temperature of a car can quickly reach upwards of 130˚F.

“Keeping Missourians safe is our top priority, and we are pleased to help the Children’s Trust Fund remind folks never to leave children alone in or around cars,” said MODOT Interim Director Kevin Keith.  “We estimate almost 20 million people visit our rest areas every year so they are certainly prime locations to convey this important message.”

“We’re reaching them in the vehicles they’re traveling in,” added MoDOT Community Relations Manager Sally Oxenhandler. “A lot of travelers will probably stop at our rest areas along the way, and those are prime locations, the message boards and the rest areas, where we can get out this important message not to leave children unattended in vehicles.”
Tips…It's a car accident you can prevent:

• Never leave children unattended in or around an automobile.
• Teach your children the dangers of a car and let them know it is not a toy or playground.
• Keep car doors and trunks locked so children cannot play in them. Keep keys and remote entry keyfobs out of children’s reach. Kids may be able to use a remote entry keyfob to unlock a car from inside a house leaving an unlocked car for others to enter.
• Make your child as visible as possible. Place rear-facing car seats in the middle of the back seat.
• Establish a routine of checking the back seat every time you exit the car to ensure no one is left behind.  Do not overlook sleeping infants.
• Try to plan ahead when you have errands.  Run errands when your spouse, trusted neighbor or friend can watch your child.
• Remember to use the drive-through convenience provided by banks, dry cleaners, pharmacies, restaurants and other businesses.
• Use your debit or credit card at the gas pump.
  • Place your cell phone, PDA, purse, briefcase, gym bag, or lunch bag on the floor in front of your child’s car seat to give you an additional reason to check the back seat. Be sure it is something that you always carry with you.
• Set your cell phone or your daily calendar in Outlook at the same time each day to remind you that the baby should have been dropped off at daycare. Many tragedies have happened as the caregiver drove on to work instead of stopping at daycare. 
• Keep a special toy in your child’s empty car seat when the child is not with you. Bring that toy to the front seat when the child is in the car seat to serve as a constant, visible reminder of your child's presence in the car.
• Call 911 if you see children unattended in a car. The first responders tell us they would rather have those calls so they can determine if the child is at risk than have the emergency call later when a child is in deep trouble.
• When a child is missing, check vehicles and trunks immediately.

(Pictured left to right - Michael Hazel, Kirk Schreiber, Beverly Wilburn
 Sheriff Greenwell, Lt. Ryan Holder, Rep. Terry Swinger, Rodney Jones) 

Ryan Holder, Lieutenant with the Pemiscot County Sheriff's Department, was the recipient of the Children's Trust Fund (CTF) 2010 Richard P. Easter Award during a surprise ceremony June 11 at the Pemiscot County Law Enforcement Center in Caruthersville, MO.   A twelve-year veteran, Lt. Holder is a Chief Criminal Investigator and is trained in the investigation of child abuse and child molestation cases.  Kirk Schreiber, CTF executive director, presented the award to Lt. Holder among his family, peers and other department members.  Pemiscot County Sheriff Tommy Greenwell; Michael Hazel, former Pemiscot County Prosecuting Attorney; Beverly Wilburn, Pemiscot County Initiative Network; and Rodney Jones, State Technical Assistance Team (STAT) made remarks about Lt. Holder’s career and accomplishments related to child protection.

The CTF Board of Directors established this award in honor of the late Richard P. Easter, who is remembered for his commitment and leadership in promoting statewide prevention efforts to better protect Missouri’s children.  CTF presents the award each year to a distinguished law enforcement officer in Missouri for exemplary contributions to the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

'Holder Receives Award' - Daily Dunklin Democrat, June 16, 2010

In this latest podcast from the Children's Trust Fund, Executive Director Kirk Schreiber is joined by Steve Morrow, Missouri Child Advocate, and Liz Beasley, Manager of Policy and Program Development, with the Office of Child Advocate for Children's Protection and Services (OCA).  Established in 2002, the OCA offers an independent voice for children to help ensure their safety.  For more information, contact the Office of Child Advocate toll free at (866) 457-2302 or oca@oca.mo.gov

AUDIO: OCA Podcast

St. Charles County gives back to the community…in a big way.  Recently the Community and Children's Resource Board (CCRB) of St. Charles County awarded more than $20,000 in mini-grants to seven local agencies that prevent child abuse and support families.  All of the funds distributed resulted from sales of the Children's Trust Fund (CTF) Prevent Child Abuse specialty license plate.  CCRB is one of 39 community CTF License Plate Prevention Partners throughout the state that market the popular kid-friendly plate. The donation to CTF of $25 per year ($50 for a two-year tag) is credited back to the partner, who then distributes the funds locally for prevention programming.
[Read 'Giving Back' St. Louis Suburban Journal]

Last year CTF distributed $161,758.50 to its community license plate partners who directly served more than 22,000 children and parents as a result.  Though overall sales of the plates have decreased statewide from reaching a high of 10,000 in 2008, CTF is  hopeful that sales will once again be on the increase as the economy rebounds.  For more information or to purchase a CTF plate click here or call toll free at 1-888/826-5437.

CTF welcomes Martina L. Peterson, Kansas City, to the Children's Trust Fund Board of Directors.  Peterson, recently appointed by Governor Jay Nixon, is a family court commissioner in Jackson County; she presides over cases and issues orders involving abuse and neglect, delinquencies, adoptions, guardianships, paternity, divorces, detention hearings and protective custody hearings.  The Governor has appointed Peterson for a term ending September 15, 2012.

Congratulations to Nela E. Beetem, Holts Summit, on being reappointed to the CTF Board.  Beetem is a certified family and school nurse practitioner who served as a nurse consultant for the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services before retiring in 2001. She continues to provide community health nurse consultation for DHSS.   Beetem was reappointed for a term ending September 15, 2012.

CTF also expresses appreciation to outgoing Board member Kimberley Mathis, St. Louis, for her volunteer service on the CTF Board during the last three years.

[Read press release - board appointments] 

Check out these other colorful prevent child abuse license plates from around the country on the Darkness2light blog.  Yes, Missouri's license plate is featured too!  Thank you to all who proudly display the Missouri "Prevent Child Abuse" license plate and if you are thinking about purchasing one, there is no better time than now!  Call us at 1-888/826-5437 or click here to get started.

CTF welcomes Charmaine Smith, St. Louis, to the Children's Trust Fund Board of Directors.  Smith, recently appointed by Governor Jay Nixon, is the founder and executive director of Discovering Options, a St. Louis-based charitable organization that provides children with comprehensive, supportive and enriching after-school programming. The Governor has appointed Smith for a term ending Sept. 15, 2012.

CTF also expresses appreciation to outgoing Board member Laurie Donovan, St. Peters, for her outstanding volunteer work and dedicated service to the Children's Trust Fund totalling more than 17 years.  Donovan originally served on the Board between 1989 and 1998 while a member of the Missouri House of Representatives as well as during the last seven years as a private citizen.