Child Lures
Child Lures Prevention and Teen Lures Prevention, are both brands of an American business model founded by Ken Wooden - seemingly highly active in the mid-00s. The campaigns were used to promote child-protection literature and attract clients for Wooden's training programs.
The Stranger Danger myth originally dominated Child Lures literature, probably as a result of said organization's need to generate financial revenue. More recently, materials have sought to play up dangers from within the family and community. Child Lures appears to have existed for a long time:
- "With the ORIGINAL Sexual Abuse and Abduction Prevention Program. Celebrating 22 Years of Education!" (as of 2008)
The business has a multi-pronged strategy, working in schools, organisations and communities. Whilst adults are targeted with professional seminars, parenting and even TV news media, children (Grades K-2, Grades 3-6 and Grades 7-12) receive skills training that is purported to help them avoid 17 "common" lures and "trust their instincts", feelings of fear that Wooden believes are innate.
TV/Media formula
Child or Teen Lures infomercials and "news" broadcasts will typically feature a presenter who touts his or her findings as "what every parent should know". The promotion then cuts to footage of a grey-haired "stranger" (in fact Kenneth Wooden) attempting to seduce children, teenagers or young adults whilst not posing any real threat to them. It is then revealed to the "shock" of the presenter that Wooden's "victims" either talk to him, follow him or co-operate with him in some other way. Wooden then uses this to support the idea that strangers pose a significant danger to the kindergarteners, schoolchildren or "college kids" in question. Wooden posts these videos on his websites, attempting to convince the public that his services are required.
We have no information as to whether Wooden pays news networks to advertise his services.
State-assisted implementation
ChildLures programs have been implemented with the assistance of state funding in some cases:
- "Funding from the Illinois State Police was provided, in part, by grant # 2003-DB-BX-0037, awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Points of view or opinions contained within the Child Lures Prevention program are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice, or the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority."[1]