BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP PUBLIC WORKS
CHILDWATCH PROGRAM
Q. WHAT IS CHILDWATCH?
A. Childwatch is a child safety program sponsored by the Burlington Township Public Works and Utilities Department and Recreation Departments. It offers the help and assistance of the Burlington Township employees to children who may become lost, injured or feel endangered when parents, police or other official sources are not nearby.
Q. HOW WILL OUR CHILDWATCH PROGRAM WORK?
A. Childwatch works by encouraging children to look for a Burlington Township vehicle and then ask the employee to summon help if they are injured, lost, or feel endangered by any means. Most of the Burlington Township vehicles are equipped with two-way radios, portable radios, and/or cell phones. The Burlington Township employee will contact our main office or the Police Department by radio and/or cell phone and they in turn will call the proper agency; i.e., police, fire or emergency medical services. The employee will stay with the child until help arrives.
Q. DOES OUR CHILDWATCH PROGRAM REPLACE THE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY WATCH PROGRAM?
A. No. The childwatch program merely supports and supplements the police and other established sources of help within the community.
Q. WHICH DEPARTMENTS ARE CURRENTLY INVOLVED WITH THIS PROGRAM?
A. The Public Works, Water Department, Sewer Department, Sanitation Department, Recreation Department, Building Maintenance, and Parks Department are currently involved.
Q. WHAT DO THE VEHICLES LOOK LIKE?
A. Most of the vehicles are white with a blue, gold, and black stripe on them. The Township emblem is also located on the majority of our vehicles. The vehicles also have Burlington Township spelled out in blue letters along with the department to which it belongs. The vehicles will also have a “Childwatch” decal on them.
Q. HOW MANY BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP VEHICLES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP CHILDREN UNDER THIS PROGRAM?
A. Monday thru Friday during the day, all vehicles on the road will be able to lend assistance. During the weekends and/or holidays, two vehicles may be available.
Q. DO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS KNOW ABOUT OUR CHILDWATCH PROGRAM?
A. Yes. The Mayor and the Public Safety Director have been informed about this program. The Childwatch provides the law enforcement community with the support necessary to create safer neighborhoods for the children and the town.
Q. HOW ARE CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY BEING INFORMED ABOUT THE PROGRAM?
A. We will be contacting the schools with fliers, posters and with a few visits to the schools. We also will try to get some information into the newspapers, the Township newsletter and the school newsletter. We will also contact the school system to see if they could give us some help with this program. We will try to contact some of the community groups also in the Township.
Q. HOW DID THIS PROGRAM ORIGINATE IN BURLINGTON TOWNSHIP?
A. It was discussed at the Burlington Township Mayor’s/Employees’ Safety Committee meeting. The members of the committee designed the emblem and formulated this program.
Q. WHAT ROLE DO PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND OTHERS CONCERNED HAVE IN THE CHILDWATCH PROGRAM?
A. Caring adults can teach the children to look first for the police to get help if they are injured or in trouble. However, if the police are not nearby, the youngsters can look for a Burlington Township vehicle and ask the workers for help or assistance. Adults can point out the Burlington Township vehicles to their children and encourage children to be alert to their surroundings by asking them if they have seen any vehicles with the childwatch emblem on them in the neighborhood.
Q. HOW WILL WE KNOW THE EMPLOYEES?
A. All Burlington Township employees wear a uniform with their name and Burlington Township embroidered on their shirts and/or jackets. All employees also carry photo I.D. with them.
Q. HOW CAN THE RESIDENTS LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHILDWATCH PROGRAM?
A. If you have any questions about the program you can call the Burlington Township Public Works main office at 239-5908, 239-5909 or 239-5910 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.