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Project Safe Childhood
Guided by the leadership of the Attorney General, Project Safe Childhood
(PSC) works to stop sexual
exploitation crimes against children through the internet.
Getting involved
PSC calls for a comprehensive effort—by law enforcement and non-law
enforcement partners—to increase awareness about these dangers to
children, to educate parents and children about Internet safety, to
identify and help children who may have been victimized, and to build
communities in which America’s youth can thrive without fear of sexual
abuse and exploitation.
The list below are just
some of the ways you can get involved. For more details
click
here to find the PSC Coordinator in your area. You can also
visit the PSC website:
www.projectsafechildhood.gov.
Parents
Parents can be the eyes and ears of law enforcement. If they see
evidence that someone is attempting to target their child for
exploitation, they can take action by reporting to law enforcement any
suspected illegal activity or behavior against children.
There are several Department-sponsored resources on the internet to help
educate parents on the dangers their children face and assist parents in
maintaining a safe home internet environment. For example, NetSmartz (www.netsmartz.org),
i-Safe (www.isafe.org),
and Web Wise Kids (www.webwisekids.org)
offer extensive educational resources for parents.
PSC coalitions should seek to find ways to engage and involve parents.
Activities could include hosting parent and community forums, and
inviting investigators from ICAC task forces or other agencies to
conduct prevention and educational information sessions. Investigators
can also address emerging threats such as social networking sites. PSC
partnerships should explore these and other opportunities to participate
in meetings with parents and children to discuss related prevention and
safety information.
Schools
While the internet is a valuable educational tool, schools must teach
children about online dangers, the ways in which predators can use the
internet to target them, and what children should do if they are
solicited inappropriately.
Many schools have developed or adopted educational programs focusing on
internet safety for their students. However, many have not yet
established or adopted internet safety programs. Local PSC partners need
to be aware of the safety programs and other educational systems being
used in their district, and they should identify areas and schools that
do not currently have programs in place. The local partners have an
opportunity to assist these schools in creating or adopting programs.
Youth
organizations
In
many instances, children and teens respond better to messages received
from peers, and they may be more willing to share information regarding
their experiences with peers. PSC partnerships should consider providing
relevant information and resources to youth organizations, such as Boys
and Girls Clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, and others, to further the goals
of teaching kids about internet safety.
Community-based organizations
Community-based organizations are, by their nature, established to
provide a public service to the community. They provide a variety of
resources through community outreach programs. They are a good resource
for law enforcement in their effort to educate children and parents on
dangers the internet can pose to children in the community.
State
and local law enforcement associations and chapters
These organizations can serve as an important mechanism through which
individual investigators and prosecutors can share experiences and
educate one another about how best to investigate and prosecute these
crimes. In addition, such groups can serve as effective partners for
training and outreach.
Local
businesses and business organizations
Local businesses are important partners in any community. Many
businesses serve as good stewards to their community by investing in
community programs and initiatives. It is a natural partnership for
businesses and law enforcement to work together to invest in the safety
of the children in the community. All businesses are encouraged to take
action to alert law enforcement to any inappropriate use of the internet
by their employees to access child pornography or to entice minors.
Victim service providers
As
law enforcement works to bring offenders to justice, it is vital that we
also place a focused priority on the needs of the child who has been
victimized and exploited. The committed and well-trained individuals who
work in the victim service field are often the first to come into
contact with the victim. Victim service providers are also best able to
understand the needs, both physical and emotional, of victims. They
assist law enforcement in conducting forensically sound interviews with
victims, coordinating investigations, identifying additional victims,
and ensuring that victims are treated in a way that is sensitive to
their needs, while providing law enforcement the maximum opportunity to
investigate and prosecute the crime.
Faith-based organizations
A
faith-based organization is in a unique position when dealing with a
child victim, as well as with the families of those victims. Many
religious organizations provide counsel and safe shelter to children and
their families, as well as any health care the victim may need. Working
with PSC partners, faith-based community can play a crucial role in
protecting, healing, and ministering to the child long after his/her
abuser has been brought to justice. PSC partners should consider
providing relevant information to these organizations.
Media
Media outlets are uniquely suited to helping PSC partners educate their
local community about the dangers the internet poses to children and the
steps that parents and children can take. PSC partnerships should seek
ways to engage media outlets in furthering the goals of PSC, such as
through public service announcements.
Family advocacy organizations, child-serving organizations, and
non-governmental organizations
These groups and other similar grassroots organizations can teach
parents about the dangers the internet poses to children, how to talk to
children about these dangers, and the resources available to parents and
schools.
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