YIPP And The 23 Pioneers

The results are in and they tell us that young children are the unlikely superhero in America’s fight against Identity Theft. You could actually go as far as to say that because of 23 children; America has hope in her battle against the Undefeated Champion of Crimes. The kids I’m talking about didn’t invent anything or stumble onto any amazing discovery. But they did break through barriers in education and demonstrated they had the ability to meet Law Enforcements recommendations for identity protection. In a nutshell, they were taught personal responsibility.

By the time the 1st YIPP Certification Workshop was over 23 kids K-7 had something to share with their parents, if their parents will only listen. Either way the message was now on its way to every community across America. Declaring that America’s children are law enforcements answer to fighting identity theft. Now it’s just a matter of time before identity theft as we know it, becomes a thing of the past.

When we set out on that day of the first YIPP Certification Workshop we were anxious to see some results from our efforts. Our goals seemed pretty basic and doable but only if X cooperated. X being the students and if they would accept being taught something they’re parents should already be doing.

The YIPP Certification Workshop consists of three phases that teach 5th graders their Identity, the Social Security Number, Identity Theft, and the Identity Protection. It allows 5th graders to experience the Free 90 Day Fraud Alert. And, be tested for their knowledge.

We hoped to get three basic conclusions from the 1st YIPP Certification Workshop on that day and to build on.
1. 5th Graders could be taught identity protection.
2. 5th Graders could demonstrate the ability to meet the Federal Trade Commission’s 5 steps for identity protection by placing a Free 90 Day Fraud Alert on their credit file.
3. 5th Graders could demonstrate the ability to share identity protection with others.

It just makes sense that kids would be the first ones to learn identity protection. They’re eager to learn about themselves and their safety, while their parents would rather ignore the subject.

We showed up early on a hot summer afternoon in September and prepared for the first of 2 scheduled sessions. This was not just an ordinary day it was a day of validation for something that meant so much to us. Each session diligently planned for 30 minutes of curriculum, demonstrations, testing, and for approximately 25 students in grades 5th and above. We prepared the test for the students and put their take home information into folders. We prepared the slide presentation and video camera. Water, notes, everything was ready when the teacher came in.

She introduced herself and said the kids would be arriving in a few minutes. She said due to early release she had half as many students, enough for one presentation. I asked her how many and she replied about 25. Then she added “K through 7” as she headed for the door. It was the way she said it, and turned away with a smile. I knew it was more “K” than “7”. I could not believe it…

The workshop was designed for 5th graders on up and I’ve never taught a class in my life. On top of that, at the last minute I’m thinking my students would rather be watching a puppet show. My heart began to race and body temperature was quickly rising…. breathe, breath I had to remind myself.

My session plan had an uncertain outcome to start with and now it was just about worthless. I mean I prepared to communicate with 5th graders and the further we get from 5th graders the less prepared I was. I’ve seen Jeff Foxworthy’s show “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader” so I know what I’m talking about when I say “barely”.

So what if the average student would have 50 less IQ points than I was planning for. So what if I didn’t have any crayons or puppets. The puppet less show must go on because everyone has an identity and they must all be protected!.… Sorry about that. Besides what a great way to evaluate the minimum age requirement for the YIPP Certification Workshop right? In what seemed like seconds, the time for worrying and planning had quickly ticked away and they were here.

One after another, the kids scrambled to multiple chairs, banging, tipping, and yelling for friends, until regrouping like a flock of landing geese take to a pond. I knew I had to appear in control, I was pre-warned that kids could sense fear and have the ability to manipulate.

As the kids swarmed in I asked as many students I could what grades they were in. Capturing and processing important data on the fly. I didn’t know it at the time how important this captured data would become. Things were happening fast and I was trying to keep my cool. What I was about experience though, I could never have expected. Except for the zombies, I knew there was a possibility a few might show up.

You see as it turns out I totally over prepared because I completely underestimated how bright kids really are. My only excuse is having none of my own, meant I was at a serious disadvantage from the get go. I admit going in to the workshop I couldn’t help but think there was more than a slight possibility this whole thing could blow up in my face. Once I found I was getting kindergartners, those concerns were enhanced. I actually thought for a split second it could turn into a bugger fight between younger kids, and the older kids wouldn’t be able to concentrate. Didn’t matter it was game time and I was about to find some answers.

Right away, their tribes were formed by the different grades and I was getting a couple of serious vibes. One vibe was telling me the tribes making up the 4th grade and under were glad to be anywhere with the tribes from the 5th and 7th grades. And the tribes from the 5th and 7th grades, resented being anywhere with the lesser tribes. The good news was I was no longer intimidated by the younger tribes, we were forming a trust. On the other hand a wedge was beginning to form between everyone and the stronger, more organized, and unhappy tribes, the four big kids from the 5th and 7th grades.

I was not surprised it happened so fast. Five minutes into Phase one, the lesson portion of the YIPP Certification Workshop the four big kids showed they were rebels and not afraid. They were beyond detecting fear; they had evolved to inflict it. Like it was instinct the big four let me know they didn’t want to be here. As in a bad B zombie movie, I saw their eyes roll into the back of their heads as they kinked their necks back, one after the other. The big four students had turned into zombies and I got the message.

The good news was the younger kids were listening to every word and that’s where my focus shifted. I may have temporarily lost the big four to the zombies but they weren’t going anywhere, they were my zombies for the next 20-25 minutes. Unfortunately for the zombies, they were about to experience an improvised and simplified version of the original lesson for the younger students. Was it my way of getting back at them for disrespecting me and for making me sweat? Sure, maybe, but otherwise the workshop was heading for a possible nose dive and something need to be done to save it.

Things were going great for pretty much the rest of Phase One, the lesson portion of the workshop. Only a few interruptions including four kids from a different school that had to leave early. A couple of hands went up and a couple of questions were fielded. The first was from a little girl, maybe a 1st grader, wanting to know what company this was. I told her it wasn’t a company it was a program for learning. The second question came from a 4th grader; I noted when he walked in. He wanted to know if it was almost over. Almost, I responded. All things considered I was feeling like things were going pretty good.

Then just as Phase One was ending it happened. It had to. With hardly a breath and his mouth open like a PEZ dispenser, the leader of the zombies exhausted his profound and public statement in what sounded to be his last and dying breath, “This is stupid”. I pretended not to hear it, I wasn’t sure if it was true or not. What if he’s right I thought and this is in fact stupid? Then I found comfort as I looked him straight at the back of his eyeballs and realized he had been listening the whole time, undoubtedly the zombies were learning.

By the end of the lesson I was ready to declare Phase One of the workshop a success. For some reason the younger students were still paying attention and waiting in anticipation for more. Why, I thought. I have no puppets, there would be no singing and I had no treats.

Coming off a stellar performance by the younger students in Phase One, I was feeling confident, Phase Two was easy. Besides, the big four had returned from zombie land and were now sitting upright. But Phase Two would be worthless if the younger students have never been on a computer. I didn’t think of that. The whole thing could blow up.

Into the fire I jumped by asking, “Class raise your hand if you have been on a computer and the internet?” All but one little boy that looked like he was maybe four years old raised his hand. The class was enthusiastic and eager for more and I could have fainted. Things couldn’t have been looking better going in to Phase Two, the Identity Protection portion of the workshop.

Phase Two is undoubtedly the most important part of the YIPP Certification Workshop. If kids could learn this and teach it to their parents, then law enforcement would be given the upper hand in fighting identity theft.

We began Phase Two and the simple five step demonstration. Using just the image of a computer we quickly moved through the steps necessary for placing a Free 90 Day Fraud Alert on an Equifax credit file. Not one single student had a problem with any of the five steps. When we were finished the students all agreed they could do this and would teach this exercise to their parents. After months of wondering if kids could perform identity protection for themselves, we finally had our validation that they in fact could.

With Phase’s One and Two behind us we moved into the third and final phase, the test portion of the YIPP Certification Workshop. In case you’re still skeptical, then pay close attention because what happened in Phase Three means complete validation of the entire YIPP Certification Workshop. I decided the class would take the five question test together instead of individually. This, in case it was too difficult for the younger students.

I read the first question and asked for by a show of hands if anyone knew the answer. Everyone from the zombies to the 4 year old raised their hands. I called on a zombie from the 5th grade and he got it.

For the answer to question two, I called on the 4th grader that asked if it was almost over yet back in Phase One. He leaned forward anxiously waiving his hand with anticipation that he had the answer. He was correct.

The third question went to a girl in about 2nd or 3rd grade and she nailed it.

The forth question another girl, this time maybe 1st or 2nd grade. She got it.

I was ready to fall over; I could hardly wait for the fifth and final question. And just like every question before, every hand was in the air. Anticipations were high, who would be the lucky one that would give the final answer. As I scanned the audience I searched for my final test subject. Should I choose a boy or another girl? Should I go for 100% and give it to a zombie? Then I saw him, the next test subject for the YIPP Certification Workshop.

Could the four year old that had never been on a computer, the one with both hands reaching enthusiastically for the stars, have the final answer and thus be included in the Certificate of Achievement Ceremony? Are there no limits I quickly pondered? As it turns out, yes there are limits to the YIPP Certification workshop. I asked him gently, “Do you have the answer?” “No” he replied as he slid down into the seat while lowering his arms.

I needed to close out Phase Three with a correct answer from the next student but I needed a little more than just the right answer. I was looking for the ground floor to the age requirement of the YIPP Certification Workshop. There she was, a little girl in the front row center seat. I remembered her; she was the first to find her chair. She was very little, maybe kindergarten, 1st grade max. She looked pretty smart and was never distracted during the presentation. I chose her to be the one and she didn’t let me down.

This very young child closed out the test for the rest of the class and all were joyous in their new found glory. For they were all YIPP Certified this hot summer day in September and law enforcement found its newest hope in the fight against identity theft.

At the end it was an empty room. We were packed up and ready to walk out the door when I looked back one last time, thinking about how different things turned out than expected. The last of the crime fighters had long since walked out the door to spread the message of identity protection, or so I hoped. Their folders tucked away in their back packs and certificates of achievements clutched in their fist. But what happened after the students left and how far the message went we may never know.

We may never know for sure what happened when those 23 students walked out the door that September afternoon, or if the workshop would someday positively affect their lives. But we do know a seed for knowledge was deeply planted in 23 minds and this was law enforcements greatest day in their fight against identity theft.

What we don’t know:

What did parents think when their child came home that day and showed off the Certificate of Achievement they received from the 2010 Nation Youth Identity Protection Program?

Did their big red folders make it home, and to the parents?

Did parents listen when their child said with “I know my identity and how to protect it”?

Did commercials for identity protection play over in the minds of parent’s while their child was speaking?

Did parents encourage their child to share with them or make excuses not to listen?

Did they read the six handouts from the Federal Trade Commission and 10 handouts from the YIPP Certification Workshop inside the big red folder?

Did the parents decide to follow the Federal Trade Commission’s 5 Steps necessary for Identity Protection, and realize they just learned something from their child that needs to be part of their family’s protection?

If you would like to know more about The YIPP Certification Workshops and how to bring one to your community than please contact us. Email admin@idsafeusa.com with your questions and contact information.