DALLAS, Aug. 27 TX-CAUSE-campaign
DALLAS, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- A nationwide consumer safety campaign was
launched today to provide a means of identifying companies that perform
criminal background checks on workers sent into consumers' homes.
The Consumer Awareness of Unsafe Service Employment (C.A.U.S.E.)
Certification campaign was launched on the seven year anniversary of the death
of Sue Weaver, who was raped and beaten to death in her Orlando home by a
worker sent to clean her air ducts. Although a twice-convicted sex offender on
parole, the company did not do a background check before hiring him.
Sue's sister Lucia Bone founded The Sue Weaver C.A.U.S.E. in her memory.
"Tragically, Sue's murder is not an isolated case. Many consumers are
assaulted and murdered each year by people whose jobs allow them access to
their victims."
"C.A.U.S.E. leads a national nonprofit campaign to educate employers and
consumers to the necessity of criminal background checks and to promote
C.A.U.S.E. Certification," she said. "The C.A.U.S.E. Team has spent two years
developing the certification program and has already received applications
from several service providers employing more than 650 in-home workers."
"We have to educate the public about hiring practices. Bonded and insured
does not mean a criminal background check has been performed on the workers.
C.A.U.S.E. Certification is designed to offer safety conscious consumers a
means of identifying service companies that take their safety seriously. It
also offers service providers a means to hire and promote safer employees,
contractors, and subcontractors. As a result, it will better protect both
consumers and businesses," Bone added. "C.A.U.S.E. Certification is a program
that very well may have saved Sue's life!"
The message is already resonating with consumer and civic groups. The
Cities of Flower Mound, Lewisville and Highland Village, Texas, each declared
August 27, 2008, "C.A.U.S.E. Certification Day." Mayor Dianne Costa, City of
Highland Village, said it is imperative citizens know who they are hiring to
work in their homes.
"I think there is a false sense of security when someone comes and we
assume that it's safe because they wear a uniform," Mayor Costa said. "Just
because you trust the company you hire, it doesn't mean the employees they
send into your home are not convicted felons."
"Our homes should be our sanctuaries -- they should feel like the safest
place in the world," said Texas Governor Rick Perry.
SOURCE C.A.U.S.E.
