Youth Protection
The perils for children and teens (and vulnerable adults) have increased exponentially with the advent of the internet and social media.
Excellent resources for parents, educators, and other caregivers who need fast access to top resources for crisis management, learning, planning, and raising awareness including with age-appropriate at-home safety-training videos.
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Please learn to talk with children, teens, and vulnerable adults now, so they have somewhere to turn if needed.
Best Resource
National Center for
Missing & Exploited Children
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is the best source of information on how to keep kids, teens, and other vulnerable populations safe, including leading online (age-appropriate) safety videos for kids and for families to learn together. Find out what to do in cases of child identity theft, sextortion, and runaways. Do you know how to protect your internet connections from traffickers who specialize in grooming preteens on social media? You can find out here. Amber Alert. More.
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Sexual Abuse
Hotline
RAINN
RAINN (Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network) is an excellent resource for victims of sexual crimes (rape, abuse, or incest) and for anyone seeking resources and information, or who needs to talk about the possibility they may be in an unhealthy relationship marked by violence. RAINN is an excellent resource for adult survivors of child sexual abuse, and also runs the nation's leading hotline for all issues of abuse. All suspected or known abuse of a minor must be reported to local authorities, but RAINN provides information and guidance understanding what abuse is and how to help. Phone/online chat available.
Catholic Policies
United States Conference of
Catholic Bishops
Stringent program of child protection was adopted in 2002 by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as the Conference of Major Superiors of Men, that involved an overhaul of child protection measures across churches, schools, and other Catholic organizations. The details and the impact of that program can be found at the USCCB Secretariat for the Protection of Children and Young People. The foundational documents, annual audits of dioceses across the country, and other resources are publicly posted.
Trafficking
The Polaris Project
The Blue Campagin
The Polaris Project provides practical and straightforward guidance to parents, educators, and health-care professionals for identifying and responding to suspected or real grooming and trafficking among youth. The Polaris Project also handles the National Human Trafficking Hotline and chat line, which answer all questions about any suspicious activity or need to report confidentially. Excellent data and statistics for presentations. Excellent handouts and social media info options. Ways to get involved.
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The Blue Campaign is the United States federal government all-in-one source for learning about indentured servitude, labor trafficking and sex trafficking. It is a very good hub of information compiled from all federal agencies and law enforcement. Many excellent infographics and videos for raising awareness in your parish, school, or organization.