I recently read about Erin Runnion, a brave Orange County native whose organization is called “The Joyful Child Foundation” in memory of Samantha Runnion. In Seal Beach this year, she received a grant from the Run Seal Beach organization.
Many may recall Erin’s daughter Samantha was abducted and killed by a predator in 2002. It was 10 years ago that this strong woman decided to fight back the best way she knew how—to provide education to parents and children on how to prevent this from happening to other children.
One of the key points in Erin’s drive to educate is that her daughter had predator training prior to the incident happening.
Some say that this can’t possibly be, but it is true, so that is an even better reason why Erin decided to run her program and teach America one state at a time on what she has learned since then.
She also studied this subject with many experts and sources, including the federal level.
What I find endearing in this woman is not only her sheer determination to get this done, but that she shows no signs of quitting.
It has been years since Samantha’s death, but this woman is gaining momentum in the media and the nation.
I recall a few years back that a television news station had announced that she was forming a group to help, but I had no idea how much work she had done—wow! I now follow her organization on a media blast that I monitor daily for updates. It’s important to me since I teach religion in the Sun Region and I know this kind of education will help in that arena as well.
It certainly cannot hurt to repeat the same education that will be in public schools to outside education that is teaching kids how to be happy in their world.
I think education of what a predator’s traits are is extremely important. I wish there was better predator awareness education in our school system. I heard Erin’s foundation has been in direct contact with the Orange County school districts to start the program in the fall. Amen to that, for parents and children can now learn about what predators truly are and what they do to make you fell safe around them.
Preators can be people we know. Even if they aren’t, they sure make themselves feel familiar. Such was the case with Samantha Runnion, when Avila asked her if she could help him with his puppy. That is the greatest danger a kid or anyone can get into when they believe someone is in trouble and it takes them off guard. I am extremely happy that the education in the school system here is about to teach our kids something more than just worrying about strangers. It’s time to teach them a bit more than just that. It’s time to give them the tools Ms. Runnion’s come up with. It’s about making the parents and the child a team—one who will beat the predator at his or her own game.
Another reason why I am an advocate for this type of education is that I believe if kids are taught what to look for in predators and parents are informed of the same things, that education moves on to adulthood for those same children.
When they are faced with sexual predators in the workplace, then they will be more than able to recognize the key signs in predators in general: that predators like to familiarize themselves with the subject, compliment them, and find ways to befriend them (make them their best friend).
The trust factor in all predators is what is sickening, and it has to stop. One of the best ways to get to that point is starting the education at a young age.
My next wish for the whole nation and the world is if we could teach everyone about how this whole sickening ordeal can be prevented and to never have it happen to anyone ever again.
I know Ms. Runnion feels this way, for she wants “not one more child” to ever be abducted again. Thanks to her and people like her, we have the Amber Alert system in place.
I hope classes like hers will always continue and that they are updated in our California system to empower us all and give us a sense of peace once and for all. For more information about this helpful non-profit organization, please go to http://www.thejoyfulchild.org/.
Enea Ostrich is a resident of College Park East.
