Letter to Editor: Nov. 16 R.E.A.C.H. Progam a Great Success

This combined effort between Seaford SETPA and Nassau County Police Department(NCPD)'s Asset Forfeiture Unit, to bring the Return Every Adult and Child Home (R.E.A.C.H.) Program to the families and friends of Seaford SEPTA on Nov. 16, was nothing short of a wonderful success.  

Over 20 individuals registered Tuesday evening at the event held at and, that number included children and adults most were from Seaford but some hailed from as far west as Oceanside.

Detective Mike Kearns was a man on a mission. Big smile, big lens and big heart!  One child's picture did not come out clear enough so Det. Kearns went out into the parking lot and got hold of the family before they left; and snapped the picture curbside. Another registrant could not get out of her car, so Mike went out the door to the car and snapped a photo, in the rain through the open car window.  The pictures were u loaded into the computer as Mike was taking them by Det. Tom Harjus and, Maria Baracco also of the NCPD, who were so incredibly patient and helpful with all of the members of the registrants families.  

At the regular Seaford SEPTA Meeting, Det. Keans explained to those in the audience how the R.E.A.C.H.  program works. If a registrant goes missing or if they find a person who is non-verbal or unable to convey pedigree information, the officers in the squad cars can punch in descriptions of the individual or any pieces of information the individual is able to convey.  That information then is cross referenced against thousands of files already in the system and matches are able to be pulled up in the squad car with pictures of the people who match the description, hopefully assisting in a safe and timely return home.  

Karen Siler of Seaford, who's family's ordeal highlighted the need for the timely implementation of a countywide notification system also spoke to the audience of the importance of parent advocacy for quality of life issues in addition to educational issues. Karen's 19 year old son with Autism, went missing for six grueling hours in October of 2009, and it was then she became aware that no notification system was in place for individuals with developmental or cognitive disabilities who go missing. 

Perhaps the most sobering line of Siler's presentation was when she explained that Amber Alert is only for children suspected of abduction under the age of 18 and  unlike Amber's parents she had a outcome wherein her son because of the deeds of a good Samaritan, (in spite of the lack of an adequate notification system being in place at the time) was returned home safe and sound.  She decided the next day, she would in fact make a difference and insure that no other family would have to endure what her's did. 

Though he could not be present, State Assemblyman David McDonnough, R-Merrick, sent along a message thanking Karen Siler for her work in educating her elected officials on the issue and for her work with them in making a notification system a reality here in Nassau County. 

It seemed that Seaford SEPTA wanted to make the most of its November meeting and in addition to the R.E.A.C.H. Registration and presentation, had guest speaker Valerie DeClara in to speak on the subject of Special Education Advocacy. DeClara condensed an overabundance of information into a format that was easy for those present to understand and to take home with them to put into practice. 

DeClara noted how impressed she was with not only the size of the crowd but also by the diversity in it noting that in addition to a strong number of parents, she was impressed to see members of the Board of Education (president Brian Fagan and vice president Rich DiBlasio), members of district administration (Superintendent Brian Conboy, ; Jane Dawkins, Director of Special Education and Kerry Carson, CPSE Chairperson), and faculty members as well. 

DeClara also noted that only through a process of "collaboration" in a mutually respectful environment, can the needs of an individual being serviced through Special Education be truly met.

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Roberta Grogan

Seaford SEPTA member