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Local children can be fingerprinted Nov 17 It takes only 10 minutes but it may save your Child life It is the Child Identification Program in which children are photograph and fingerprinted on a special informa lion card If a child goes missing hours are critical to gel out as much information on that child in as an as possible according to Brenda Appleby chair of Town which sponsors the program It a not a deterrent savsApplebv Its Just going to help parents if the child goes missing The information card shows the child s photo fingerprints parents doctor and dentist addresses as well as the child physical description Including blood type and identifying marks If the child is under one car old footprints are taken instead of fingerprints The card the only copy is kept by the parents in a safe The club members have been trained by the Regional Police Force in the aspects of fingerprinting and they have the endorsement of the Ha ton and Ontario Pro uncial Police Appleby says Since the Clubs across Ontario started the program last year over children hate been fingerprinted These information charts particularly the fingerprints are important says Barbara Snider the vicepresident of the Ontario branch of Quid Find which is an international organization set up to help locatt missing The first thing deranged people will do once they have kidnapped children is alter the child 5 looks she For example a little blond haired girl will suddenly become a black haired and a child under three can also change dramaticall through growth If the child is found later the parents mas not know it is their child and the fingerprints will be the only the child Snider say there are eight children cur missing for the past 15 years in but there arc no statistics on miss children in Ontario The public is becoming aware of reports of missing children more and more says Doug principal of Joseph Gib bons and public schools Magwood thinks the Child Identification Program is such a good idea that he has sent memos to parents of all his students urging them lo take Iheir child to the program which will held Nov 17 at the Gordon newsmakers Arena Although is not a member of the Civ Kan Club he has volunteered his time to help out on day added the Child Identification Program is not just for little children and parents should also take their teenagers too Appleby agrees saying the number of young girls disappearing after working at night has been increasing The Hills and Parks Department will be hosts for the Oakulle Town Two Civitan Club Nov 17 at the Gor don Alcott Arena loSpm It takes 10 Georgetown Acton Wednesday Nov 1984 do Georgetown 15MountaJnviewRdN GEORGETOWN Toronto Ltn Board of Education Classrooms closed to save Board money In an effort save money the Hal ton Board of Education will be closing elementary classrooms in Hills his school year According to Jerry Jenkins dant of business service savings will be made in utilities time adding up to to per classroom In com parison to the board budget he said one room closure does not seem to represent major savings but addition other room closures it can add up to yearly accumulative savings for the school board The Board of is aiming for the future when sections of school can be closed off then the money can reall be saved trustee Bill said Besides Hills classroom closures I3classroomsin Oakvillc ireo and classrooms In Burlington will also be The schools affected in Hills arc George Kennedy five classrooms Gibbons four Z Bennett three four Glen Williams two Harrison two Wriggles two McKenzle Smith two Park two The majority of these rooms arc empty and for the ones that are being used for students programs limeuillbegivento accommodate Ihe students in other avail able rooms Jenkins said I don believe any program will be seriously disrupted he said Superinicndant of Halton Hills School Ron Chapman said a natural lime to close the rooms will be during the Christmas break so there will not be any great effect on programs The closures are based on a functional rated report presented to Ihe trustees last month and discussions with of the schools According lo the report only per of George Kennedy school classrooms ore used by students per cent at Joseph Gibbons school per cent at M Ben school and per cent at school Although only an average per cent of all Hills classrooms are used by students some rooms remained open because Ihey are being used for other reasons Seventeen rooms were needed to accommodate the increase in French mersion classes and approximately rooms art being used by either the com m unity or the Jenkins said there will be no Immediate in the staff and he ex pects any reduction in staff will be done by attrition New elderly services launched by Region A massive faced plan lake care of Halton senior citizens in coming decades has been launched minus a Ileal base that some believe is integral to he plan s success Regional council last Wednesday com milted itself spending almost next year in initial funding for variety of programs aimed at coping with the ever increasing demand for social services among burgeoning elderly tion Council stopped short however of spending another 500 next year on a statistical Information centre to provide seniors with full uptoditt data on services available to ihcm By a 10 recorded vote council left further consideration or the data base to a planned elderly services advisory com mittee even though Burlington Councillor Waller pointed out that it is a major cog in Ihe overall mechanism Debate over the data base dragged on after raised the spectre of Ethiopia starving millions to underline the need for adequate long range planning If this debate goes on any longer have to declare a conflict of Interest joked a rapidly aging Councillor Bill Johnson of Milton Approved by council last week formation of an elderly services ad committee with terms of reference still to come comprised of single representatives of he Disnct Health Council Social Planning Council Housing Authority area hospitals rest homes charitable homes for the aged Sheridan College gerontology program chambers of commerce ihe Ministry of Health the Ministry of Community and Social Services two citizens at large and two Regional councillors development of an elderly services consumer and professional awareness program including a per year up dating of a seniors service directory and a 1 family and resident orientation program for 1875 and the investigation and implementation If feasible of a special telephone Information number further consideration of a publicity program on seniors services tor continued support for the Provlneially funded elderly assessment and placement service hiring of a per year elderly services with contracted clerical staff provided the Province shore the cost a pilot program to extend the range and use of the Manor bus serving central home for the aged in Milton a engineering feasibility survey and development of a site plan for Centennial Manor representing the Region share In the cost of a major upgrading project to be partially financed by he Province a Si work program aimed at altering responsibility for operating homes for the aged so he Region can provide satellite homes on a contractual or private basis On staffs advice council has shelved further consideration or a taxi fare assistance program for the elderly until the first part of its planned transportation study for the disabled is completed The Region hopes to one offer financial aid through Ihe Genera Welfare Assistance Act to seniors needing taxis to gel around their community Wellbein of children is central concern Report suggests how to protect them TM HWs Arts Council has to Unhwnlty Woman a Club Fund tar Acton and schools to right fa Ralph and EuMM tha HEUa Aru Council Macawan of Club Maty tha Scholarship Fund and Ruth An investigation into a highly hidden and pervasive tragedy shows it could remain as Robin described it unless certain steps are taken A two year study into child sexual abuse juvenile prostitution and child pornography which resulted in a 1 page report was outlined by one of its authors Dr Badgley chairman of the nine member study com highlighted several of Ihe report j2 recommendations at a meeting last Monday evening Our central concern was with the well being of the child explained The victims of sexual abuse are scarred and live with feelings of uncertainty fear and according to the committee chairman Findings showed about one in four women and one in 10 men are victims of unwanted sexual acts of serious as children Virtually all assailants arc male and in the majority of cases ore family members or In a position of trust is understandably concerned that the recommendations are followed up and lo hat end stressed the importance of establishing the office of Commissioner This person would help serve as a catalyst for restructuring of services The Com mlssioner would provide a central focus and coordinate government departments at the federal provincial and municipal level Second on his list of priority suggestions was educating children to enable them lo protect themselves from these crimes and know who to go for help Dr ad milted he doesn I know details of programs already in place in Canada when asked by Peter Abbott a Halton Board of Education Trustee Mr Abbott was one of five people representing various segments of the community who made up a panel Each question and Mr Abbotts concerned programs like the one his board is considering in curriculum Indicated such an initiative is unusual a though something he considers necessary We need lo teach children the distinction between what is good and acceptable and what is bad and unacceptable Mr said The final segment of Ihe evening gave the audience an opportunity to question Badgley At least one questioned the effects of this type of education fearing that children might become paranoid We need lo balance fear with self tlon the speaker replied Information gathered from more than 10 children across Canada cated one point clearly according to They wished they had better tkra They wished they know more about what was happening to them and who lo turn to for help he said Panel member James Sherlock Roman Catholic School Board trustee wanted to know Dr recent debate centring on censor tag films and freedom of We regard child pornography as a direct form of child sexual abuse There is a per record made of that child said He recommends a determined and coordinated national effort to control child pornography which in his words involves the depiction of a crime Dr is hopeful the study will heighten public awareness of child pornography The study calls for changes in the Criminal Code where it relates lo sexual offences against children The nature of association between the offender and vie Urn use of threats youlhfulness of the child and extent of injuries should figure in the definition of unacceptable sexual behaviour The committee looked at 24 sections of the Criminal Code which cover sexual offences against children and found some archaic terms The word chaste for is till used in reference he child personal history A similar reference was removed from he laws covering sexual abuse when they were revised last year The length of lime the judicial system takes to process cases and the resulting stresson the family was a concern raised by panel member Paul Bennett a therapist with C O and he Ilalton Sexual Abuse Treatment Program I concerned about the family being victimized by the system he told Bad The committee chairman responded by saying the principle concern was to ensure he protection of the young child and put other considerations at a secondary level pointed out strangers who are perpetrators are dealt with more sternly thai those in a position of trust This a pro which represents only a part of the picture Not only does the report recom mend changes in laws It notes practises of recording Incidents of abuse and assess ment of cases must be Improved There is a need for the evidence given by children lo be considered as trustworthy as an adults according to A question submitted by a member of the audience related to number of limes a child must tell about an incident Dr estimated a child could be made to repeat a disclosure as many as seven times during the existing process The two legal systems Involved including the Criminal and civil courts result in a child being Interviewed by police at least one social worker Ihe Crown and lawyers The two systems are in conflict Very rarely does a victim feel he court system has helped him explained Badgley Ron Co upland executive director of Hal on Children Aid Society and panel mem wondered who those in the field of children services could do to meet the needs outlined in the study More complete assessment was the speaker response The shelf life of the report was also questioned by Mr Coupland who was told it would depend on meetings like the one lost Monday We re now at fulcrum of community action said Although he said he feels we can be quietly optimistic about overcoming some pro blems one member of audience was concerned about Ihe federal government s record of action Only five per of report recommendations art implemented cording lo the questioner It is apparent he government will react to he extent there is a strongly expressed community concern suggested Badgley T federal departments of Justice and h and welfare have been briefed on the according to Badgley He ad milted it is unlikely upcoming session of parliament will deal with Ihe mendallons Computer age meter reading likely The Hills Commission Is in black again this it was revealed at the monthly commission meeting Friday Hydro lotaled 118 while revenues tallied 124 166 leaving a net profit of Hills Hydro may be entering the computer age for meter reading The local commission after reading cor respoidence from the Mississauga Hydro Commission method of meter reading involving a small handheld currently in use in The which can be used for reading hydro gas and water meters should save time and money hydro commission chairman Murt Allison said A builltn warning system will also alert meter readers lo any errors and dings In a small disk Inside the can be easily transerred a main computer at local hydro offices