Family Advocacy educates children on "stranger danger" Published Dec. 11, 2012 By Felton Joshua 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- In an effort to help educate children about safety, the 82nd Medical Group Family Advocacy office spent part of the afternoon Dec. 6 teaching children at the at the Sheppard Youth Center how to deal with strangers in real life situations. The class, taught by 1st Lt. Tryphena Ellis, 82nd Medical Operations Squadron Family Advocacy Officer (FAO), was intended to enhance the children's awareness of what to do if a stranger approaches you. "The one thing the Family Advocacy office wants to focus on is prevention and education," Ellis said. "The youth center provides a prime opportunity to work with the children and educate them on how to deal with strangers." Ellis, along with co-workers Sheri Ward, Shasta Brown, Tech. Sgt. Huey Watson and Staff Sgt. Drew Raboy acted out different role playing scenarios, covering anything from a friend of a parent trying to pick up a child from school, to a stranger trying to get them to help find a lost dog. By using the scenarios to highlight real-life situations the children might encounter, the children can learn how to cope with dealing with a strangers. The classes conducted by the Family Advocacy office are just one part of an overall training program. Under the leadership of Maj. Michael McCarthy, Family Advocacy has many programs being offered to the base such as anger management, "Bundles for Babies", a Dads 101 course, student spouse groups, new parent programs, prenatal class, stress management and domestic abuse. "This is the first Family Advocacy class conducted at the Youth Center," Ellis said. "We are trying to build an ongoing relationship with the children at the youth center to keep them educated about how to deal with strangers and also child abuse." For more information, contact Family Advocacy at 676-2271.