Teen Sexual Exploitation Prevention Program
YOUTH AWARE is a bold prevention curriculum informed by 25 years of research and experience working with youth. It is a unique curriculum offering three levels of engagement, taking students from learners to this generations leaders!
THE ISSUE
The sexual exploitation of children and teens is the fastest growing crime in the world. These crimes include: sextortion (using fraud, coercion or threats to obtain sexual photos or videos) and sex trafficking (to induce or force a person under age 18 into commercial sex acts). There are an estimated 11 million people under age 18 globally, including hundreds of thousands in the United States, at risk of sex trafficking every year (ILO 2016). Cases of human trafficking have been reported in all 50 US states and Washington D.C. (Polaris.org). In 2018, The National Center for missing and exploited Children (NCMEC) reported that 1 in 7 missing children, in the United States, are victims of sex trafficking.
NCMEC also found a 90% increase in online predator solicitation of minors for sexually explicit photos, videos, or luring them to meet in person since 2013. The internet has expanded the reach of predators and traffickers into all communities, from urban to rural, with predators reaching children and teens both online as well as in person.
The #1 pathway into both sextortion and sex trafficking is by building relationships. Traffickers and online predators use calculated words and behaviors that meet needs,
build trust, and create an emotional bond preparing the youth for secrecy, control, and exploitation. Traffickers and predators can begin as strangers,
gang or occult members, peers, or family members, including biological parents.
They create the kind of relationships children and teens run to, not from.
NCMEC also found a 90% increase in online predator solicitation of minors for sexually explicit photos, videos, or luring them to meet in person since 2013. The internet has expanded the reach of predators and traffickers into all communities, from urban to rural, with predators reaching children and teens both online as well as in person.
The #1 pathway into both sextortion and sex trafficking is by building relationships. Traffickers and online predators use calculated words and behaviors that meet needs,
build trust, and create an emotional bond preparing the youth for secrecy, control, and exploitation. Traffickers and predators can begin as strangers,
gang or occult members, peers, or family members, including biological parents.
They create the kind of relationships children and teens run to, not from.
THE SOLUTION
We will not end the sexual exploitation of youth by responding to it, we end it by getting ahead of it in prevention education!
To end sex trafficking and all forms of exploitation we need to invest in a model of prevention that educates, equips, and empowers children and youth!
Our YOUTH AWARE program does just that!
To end sex trafficking and all forms of exploitation we need to invest in a model of prevention that educates, equips, and empowers children and youth!
Our YOUTH AWARE program does just that!
Step 1: Educate An engaging presentation for students defining exploitation, from sexting to trafficking, the dangers and affects of explicit photo sharing, internet safety, qualities of a healthy relationship, identifying behaviors that lead to abuse or exploitation, Safe Harbor Law for Youth, when and how to get help, and inspirational ways youth are becoming #gamechangers and #leaders in ending exploitation and trafficking! Offered in both large assembly and classroom format. |
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Everyone Receives
The hosting School, Church, or Organization receives an information and resources packet.
Students in step 2 receive the powerful message #unitedwewin reminder bands, and in step 3 receive YOUTH AWARE
T-Shirts and other swag, a financial award, and mentorship to design and lead their project!
Students in step 2 receive the powerful message #unitedwewin reminder bands, and in step 3 receive YOUTH AWARE
T-Shirts and other swag, a financial award, and mentorship to design and lead their project!
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For Staff and Parents
For Educators, Counselors, Staff, and Parents we provide one hour, 2 hour, or half day workshops. Learn about the issues, signs and indicators of a trafficked or exploited youth, keys to successful prevention education, best practices for disclosure, responding well, and understanding State law and legal process.
For a list of available programs and topics, click below or go to our Education and Training page.
For a list of available programs and topics, click below or go to our Education and Training page.
Testimonials
"I learned about ‘grooming’ into trafficking and that those people [predators / traffickers] really try to become someone or something that is missing in your life”
- Minneapolis High School Student
· “I learned how important self worth is in prevention. Wonderful, informative presentation!”
- High School Teacher
· “I had a student, in step 2 small group, who was able to intervene and protect her younger sister. Her sister had met an online “friend” who had convinced her to secretly meet him the next morning. Our student said she learned the signs of predator grooming and felt confident in what to do from our program. Our curriculum with small group conversations really does make the difference!”
- Saysha, YOUTH AWARE Facilitator
· “If your stuck, there’s people out there who can help you”
- North Minneapolis High School Student
· “Knowing the different warning signs of a bad relationship and of a trafficked person was the most helpful. Now I can better look out for myself and for others.”
- Southwest Christian High School Student
· “The Youth Aware Program was an awesome experience for our students at Patrick Henry. The initial presentation was engaging and extremely informative. The facilitators are so skilled at keeping the information relative, personal, and interesting. They co-facilitated a small group with me with students who were interested in learning more and then our culminating project was having a table during lunches to spread the word about how pervasive sex trafficking actually is. A must for all educators! Very important work for anyone who works with youth.”
- Kim Cook, School Counselor at Patrick Henry HS, North Minneapolis
- Minneapolis High School Student
· “I learned how important self worth is in prevention. Wonderful, informative presentation!”
- High School Teacher
· “I had a student, in step 2 small group, who was able to intervene and protect her younger sister. Her sister had met an online “friend” who had convinced her to secretly meet him the next morning. Our student said she learned the signs of predator grooming and felt confident in what to do from our program. Our curriculum with small group conversations really does make the difference!”
- Saysha, YOUTH AWARE Facilitator
· “If your stuck, there’s people out there who can help you”
- North Minneapolis High School Student
· “Knowing the different warning signs of a bad relationship and of a trafficked person was the most helpful. Now I can better look out for myself and for others.”
- Southwest Christian High School Student
· “The Youth Aware Program was an awesome experience for our students at Patrick Henry. The initial presentation was engaging and extremely informative. The facilitators are so skilled at keeping the information relative, personal, and interesting. They co-facilitated a small group with me with students who were interested in learning more and then our culminating project was having a table during lunches to spread the word about how pervasive sex trafficking actually is. A must for all educators! Very important work for anyone who works with youth.”
- Kim Cook, School Counselor at Patrick Henry HS, North Minneapolis
#unitedwewin