ba/child.pr             97-123                                        Contact: Rita Gale: 301-217-3849


UNATTENDED CHILD SAFETY CAMPAIGN
ANNOUNCED BY COUNTY OFFICIALS              For Immediate Release: April 23, 1997


     A public education campaign targeted at unattended children in public facilities
was announced today by the Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries and other
top officials.
     Following an incident last year in a neighboring county when two young women were
taken by force as they waited outside a public library after hours for a ride, and based on
reports of similar situations in the media, the Department of Public Libraries formed the
Unattended Child Task Force to address what might be done locally to help prevent such an
incident in the County.
      Some local public library branches have experienced situations where children were
left alone during library hours and after closing.  Similar problems have been reported by
other public facilities throughout the County.  Fairland Community Library officials, who
hosted the news conference, report that there is an average of two incidents per month of
children being left unattended when the library closes in the evening.
     The central pieces of the campaign are posters and bookmarks displaying the message,
"It's ok to leave toys  alone .but not your kids."  The bookmark contains brief reminders for
parents and kids.  A resource brochure lists books, organizations and information for parents
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UNATTENDED CHILD SAFETY CAMPAIGN                                                2-2-2-2

about child care, sources of after-school activities, and the Maryland law on unattended
children, in addition to what parents can do to keep kids safe.  A more comprehensive
Information Packet is also available upon request. 
     In announcing the campaign, the Acting Director of the Department of Public
Libraries, Que Bronson, said, "The purpose of the campaign is to educate and inform parents
and caregivers to ensure that their children are supervised by responsible adults at all times.
     "The task force understood," Bronson said, "that the reality of the world -- economics
and availability of affordable child care -- means that parents might have to leave children
unattended occasionally and that those children need preparation.  Resources are listed in the
brochure for that purpose, as well."
     Other officials participating in the announcement were County Executive Douglas M.
Duncan, County Council President Marilyn J. Praisner, Police Chief Carol A. Mehrling,
Secretary of Health and Human Services Charles L. Short, and Fairland Community Librarian
Irene Briggs.
     The task force, chaired by Rita W. Gale, library regional administrator for Customer
Support, consisted of representatives from the Montgomery County departments of Police,
Health and Human Services, and Recreation, the County's Community Use of Public Facilities
Office, Public Information Office, Montgomery County Public Schools, and the Montgomery
County Chamber of Commerce.   
     Duncan called the campaign "a major child safety initiative which is a positive 
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UNATTENDED CHILD SAFETY CAMPAIGN                                                3-3-3-3

reaction to a negative situation."  He also called attention to the fact that "if part of the
answer to the problem of unattended children is more recreational facilities," his
recommended FY '98 Operating Budget includes funding for a new community center in the
eastern portion of the County and a new pool in Germantown.
     Praisner announced an initiative with the PTAs in the Paint Branch cluster to enlist the
support of parents and caregivers in reducing the occurrences of unattended children.
     Mehrling announced an after-school Community Grant initiative with White Oak
Middle School which would establish a new after school program for at-risk middle and high
school students living within the school's attendance boundaries.
     Short presented information on various programs offered by the Children, Youth and
Family Services and Child Welfare Services which provide child care in the County.
     Copies of the resource brochure may be picked up at every County Public library and
Regional Services Center.  Unattended Child Information Packets containing detailed
brochures and materials on program options are available at local branches of the County
public libraries.
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