by Kara Hildreth
Thisweek Newspapers

Parents who want information on how to keep children safe from abuse can attend a community education meeting next week at Farmington High School.

The Farmington Police department and Anna's Bananas Daycare and Preschool Center in Farmington will sponsor a follow-up educational meeting from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10 at Farmington High School.

The follow-up meeting comes after a community notification meeting held Oct. 10, to inform Farmington residents of a Level 3 sex offender who recently moved into a rental town home in Farmington.

The Minnesota Department of Corrections and the Jacob Wetterling Foundation will collaborate to provide the community an educational meeting focused on child safety, said Anna Achtenberg, owner and director of Anna's Bananas.

"There were many questions and concerns surrounding how to bring information about sexual assault to our children,î Achtenberg said, after speaking with representatives from the DOC and local law enforcement officials.

"This meeting will provide the audience specifics on how to talk to our children without scaring them and what to do to protect them,î Achtenberg said.

The meeting will not re-address issues related to any specific offenders or the specifics to the recent Level 3 sex offender who moved to Farmington.

Parents, teachers, child care providers and concerned community members are encouraged to attend. The DOC is committed to assisting local law enforcement to continually provide public safety, according to a press release.

"Sexual assault affects the entire community even if we have not been the primary victims of an offense. Often there is too much focus on one offender or the stranger offender,î according to a DOC press release.

The majority of offenses happen at the hands of someone who is not a stranger and it is imperative that parents and caregivers have the right conversations with children and engage in the most effective ways to protect them, Achtenberg said.

The Jacob Wetterling Foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides specific information to communities statewide. A representative from the Jacob Wetterling Foundation will speak for an hour, Achtenberg said.

"The goal of the community meeting is to live being smart,î Achtenberg said. "We can't keep living scared.î

The meeting will review signs or signals of people who may abuse children.

"Often parents teach their child stranger danger, however, statistics show it is a high percentage of people who are victimized by a relative, neighbor or friend,î Achtenberg said.

People can learn inexpensive ways to protect the safety of their homes and children, Achtenberg said. "We need to educate our children properly. We want people to be aware and educated, so if someone does move into their neighborhood they will be informed.î

Each panelist will speak and offer insights for parents. "We will explain to people the ground rules and then the panelists can answer questions at the end. We don't want the meeting to be an angry or hostile forum,î Achtenberg said, adding how she hopes parents come with notebooks ready to take notes.
"I'm going to gain information too,î Achtenberg said. "We plan on this meeting being all positive. We want a good turnout and we want our energy and resources to go toward educating parents. I am excited about educating parents,î she added.

Kara Hildreth is at farmington.thisweek@ecm-inc.com.

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