New Initiative Launched to Protect Children in Camps
A new initiative has been launched by the ‘Jewish Community Watch’ (Crown Heights Watch) aimed at protecting children from abuse in sleep-away camps. The new initiative is called Project E.M.E.S., and is endorsed by Rabbis and Doctors.
The purpose of Project E.M.E.S. (Educating Mosdos on Eradicating Sexual abuse) is to contend with the myriad of potential problems and issues that a summer camp may encounter.
Typically, summer camps hire random groups of young adults and Bochurim with the intention that they organize, arrange and direct the camp and its activities. As a result, many are untrained and ill-prepared to handle issues relating to CSA that may arise.
Furthermore, parents are often unaware of the camp staff, ranging from counselors, learning teachers, life guards, cooks, waiters, night activity staff and head counselors. Consequently, most if not all parents are wholly unaware of with whom they have entrusted their child to.
It is of utmost importance that at these camp locations, children are well tended to and that their counselors are aware and trained regarding CSA and any similar situation that may arise.
Since its inception, JCW has had 31 reports of CSA that occurred in camps. Below are a couple of examples of stories that have been relayed to JCW regarding this issue in camp.
Last year Jewish Community Watch reached out to all the Chabad overnight camps and approached this sensitive subject. Although few camps had sufficient policies in place or were doing anything to enforce them.
JCW and the Crown Heights Community Counsel launched a campaign to create a comprehensive policy directed toward prevent CSA in camps. Project E.M.E.S. will provide annually updated information to the public on the following items for each camp:
1. The camp’s individual sexual abuse policy.
2. Answers from each camp’s administration to a list of questions with regard to hiring policies, abuse policies, and other questions many parents need to know.
3. A list of the camp’s current summer staff list.
4. A copy (if adopted) of JCW’s Staff Responsibility Agreement signed by each staff member.*
5. Information as to whether the staff members were required to partake in an educational seminar on CSA.
With this information, parents will be assured that their camp is taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their child/ren. Additionally, it will assist the various contacted organizations with information relating to determining the safety of a potential employee.
However, parents must take action as well. Teach your children about the “No-Touch-Zone.” Teach them that they don’t have to feel embarrassed to talk to you or to ask questions. Teach them to speak up if, God forbid, something does happen. In many situations children will feel embarrassed or scared to tell their parents they are being abused, so develop a phrase or word that can be used to convey that they are in risk or have already been victimized. This secret phrase can be hugely beneficial especially when children are far away from home and may be surrounded by others while speaking with you.
Sending your child away for a month or two can be scary. You are literally entrusting him or her into the hands of complete strangers. Our society has told us that these “strangers” are trustworthy and reliable. Sadly, this has been proven otherwise. As parents, it is your duty, OUR duty to protect our children.
No one imagines that their child will be the one who comes home burdened with nightmares and depression. Let’s make sure they aren’t.
Project E.M.E.S. is endorsed by:
Rabbi Yosef Blau, MS
Rabbi YY Jacobson
Rabbi Levi Kaplan
Rabbi Avraham Zajac
Rabbi Elchonon Tauber
Rabbi Abba Paltiel
Rabbi Yossi Paltiel
Mr. Benny Forer, Esq.
Dr. Michael Salamon, PhD
Rabbi Dr. Asher Lipner, PhD
Dr. Chaim Drizin, MA, LMFT
Dr. Norman Goldwasser, PhD
Hatzalah of innocent lives
crown heights watch should be the last ones taking care of this. They ruined peoples lives without evidence. As much as we must and I repeat must protect all children, you can’t and I repeat can’t malign destroy and ruin other peoples lives. I know this will not be printed. That’s even more reason that chw should not be entrusted with this very important issue.
What will you do?
How do you know they do not have evidence? How come they are not brought before a being din? How come they have not been brought to court?
And are you willing to do this? At least they are doing something while you sit and complain.
Thank you crown heights watch for everything you do.
In this I strongly agree
I’m an eternal optimist. I couldn’t agree more but I really hope that now they’re doing something to PREVENT the problem rather than act as gun-toting vigilantes, they may be moving into a new era of prevention & education.
Of course, the damage they have done already is irreparable. But I’d like to think they’ve matured & realized just what they’ve done in their knee-jerk reactions to every complaint, true or not. Only time will tell.
signed #3
Confused
Why do they write on there site in conjunction with the chjcc? And endorsed by the rabbonim?
Great Start!!
Now insist on background checks on EVERY staff member, inc. long time Directors. Fingerprint them, the works. Get references from where they were on Shlichus & any previous schools/camps they were involved in. You are 100% right, you can’t be too careful. This is proactive & very important.
signed,
one of JCW biggest critics.
Why are you a critic
JCW is only saving lives, why would we critisize them?
Wow!
Great idea but Crown Heights Watch should not be the one doing this. They are an abusive organization and have ruined too many innocent people’s lives. Are they going to handle this more professionally, more maturely, more responsibly?
Did you see the endorsement list?
Seriously? Have you even examined the list of people endorsing? All are professionals; all support JCW. So what a shlepper like you says is irrelevant.
Aharon
This should be totally boycotted. Heaven forbid they become the leaders in this field. They are not trusted and should not have power and a say over every camp. This is terrible news.
And this puts a big question on the Rabbis that signed onto this
let's be careful not harmful
That also right. Some of those Rabbis are you are wise, but did not bother with Drisho v’Chakiro so please do.
Im amazed
You would put children in danger because of a personal vedetta or false belief system. Lets just say you believe JCW is evil, does that change this endeavor to save children.
Additionally, all the endorsers are familiar with JCW. Yet, despite OVERWHELMING and continuous evidence that JCW does great work, idiots continue to bash and lie to enable themselves and their families to molest away. Please stop the evil that is within you.
Leah s.
Awesome about time!
let's be careful not harmful
Agree with #1! Well … ruining lives is profitable.
Now we need “mashgihim tmidim” specializing in CSA. Who will pay? City? I doubt. Parents? Thanks JCW for keeping unemployment rate down and making summer camp less affordable!
Phenominal
So how much money does JCW make off ruining lives? Im sure you have careful calculations of that.
Your comment basically endorses CSA to keep cost down on parents. Youre an idiot.
so proud!
Go JCW you are amazing! Saving lives daily so proud and feel that my children are finally safer in this community! Respect!
Questions they asked the camps
Are criminal background checks (including the sex offenders’ registry) performed on all personnel?
How many references does the camp require for staff members or volunteers, and how does the camp check them?
During your interview process do you discuss boundaries—appropriate or inappropriate touches?
Do you offer training to staff to prevent sexual abuse and bullying? If yes, who does the training?
How are campers made aware of what to do if they feel unsafe?
Under what circumstances are staff members allowed to be alone with a camper?
Are at least two adult counselors assigned to sleep in each cabin/bunkhouse? If not, what extra precautions are taken in this bunk?
Who is responsible for enforcing camp rules and regulations with regard to allegations of sexual misconduct?
What steps are you taking to decrease the risk of bullying among campers?
When allegations of sexual misconduct are raised, are they reported to a rabbinical authority or to the police?
Do you offer your employees clear policies about sexual misconduct and consequences, and are they in a staff handbook?
Is every staff member and volunteer in your camp required to read and sign your Child Abuse Policy and Staff Responsibility Agreement before he is accepted?
Funny....
Isn’t it funny that the website is not able to get the same endorsement for their website…..
Funny the looser
I doubt they want endorsements from all these people, then they have more bs to deal with.
I am sure they are just fine with what they have smarty pants
Did you see their endorsement list?
Umm…most of the above people have endorsed JCW.
Background check?
I hear they are doing background checks on all staff with there yeshiva’s can anyone confirm this?
just a guy
It never ceases to amaze me how some of these comments of jcw this, and jcw that, spew forth when action is threatened or a new initiative is announced.
I can almost guarantee that those that are AGAINST anything progressive that would protect the children – are guilty of knowing someone close that’s abusive or themselves abusive in either verbal or physical.
Hamyvin yov….
How sad is that?