Keeping Our Children Safe from Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation

Child Sexual Abuse
With national studies finding 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 10 boys will be sexually abused by the age of 18, Kristi House remains dedicated to child sexual abuse prevention training and education in its mission focused exclusively on child sexual abuse. We deliver best practice programs for schools, community groups, corporations and faith-based organizations, with different curriculums specifically geared for children, parents and providers.

Child Sex Trafficking
In addition, in the past five years Kristi House has grown its practice and training to address a previously overlooked form of child sexual abuse, the commercial sexual exploitation of children. With support from the U.S. Department of Justice, we have trained more than 5,000 service providers in nearly 200 agencies and organizations in South Florida and nationwide in addressing CSEC, and have provided sessions at 31 major conferences. Our experience and approach are serving as a model for the State as it enacts the Safe Harbor Act, which was authored and promoted by Kristi House.

PREVENTION EDUCATION & TRAINING PROGRAMS

PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN

• Safe Child Program, PreK–Grade 3/Ages 3-9 (30 minutes per day for one week)
  The Safe Child Program is a comprehensive personal safety training program for young children developed by Sherryll Kraizer, Ph.D. Safe Child is a Miami-Dade County Public Schools-approved curriculum that combines a developmentally appropriate series of videotapes, classroom role-playing and discussions. It presents safety skills in a positive, non-explicit and non-threatening manner to reduce children’s vulnerability without raising their anxiety. In nearly a decade of evaluation, the Safe Child Program has demonstrated that it reduces children’s risk of abuse and enhances their personal safety and competence.

• Online Safety, Grades 4-5/Ages 9-11 (1.5-hour program, from The NetSmartz Workshop)
  This interactive, educational program developed by National Center for Missing & Exploited Children with funding from the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Prevention provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline. Safety skills include teaching youth how to protect personal information, what to do about online harassment, how to recognize potential Internet risks, how to prevent themselves from being exploited and how to report victimization to a trusted adult.

• Commercial Sexual Exploitation Safety, Grades 6-8/Ages 11-14 (1.5-hour program)
  This awareness-raising program for middle school students discusses what commercial sexual exploitation is, who it happens to and how. Society’s glamorization of prostitution and pornography is explored along with perceptions of self and others. Resources for kids at risk or involved “in the life” are provided. Materials from the CSEC Community Intervention Program developed by the U.S. Department of Justice and leading U.S. CSEC programs.

PROGRAMS FOR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS

• Stewards of Children Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program for Parents & Caregivers (3-hour program)
  This program provides parents and caregivers background, information and tips for keeping children safe. Using videos, workbook activities and discussion, this nationally recognized, best practice program teaches parents and caregivers how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. How to talk to your child about safety and seven basic precautions parents can take are covered. Parents leave aware, enlightened and empowered, not overcome with fear. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Stewards of Childrenhas been shown effective for increasing and/or improving participants’ knowledge, attitudes and behavior over the long-term. Kristi House educators are certified trainers in this program developed by the Darkness to Light organization.

• Stewards of Children Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Program for Parents & Caregivers (3-hour program) This program provides parents and caregivers background, information and tips for keeping children safe. Using videos, workbook activities and discussion, this nationally recognized, best practice program teaches parents and caregivers how to prevent, recognize and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. How to talk to your child about safety and seven basic precautions parents can take are covered. Parents leave aware, enlightened and empowered, not overcome with fear. Recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Stewards of Children has been shown effective for increasing and/or improving participants’ knowledge, attitudes and behavior over the long-term. Kristi House educators are certified trainers in this program developed by the Darkness to Light organization.

• Caring for Kids: What Parents Need to Know about Child Sexual Abuse (2-hour program).
  Using a combination of video, presentations and discussion, this program covers what sexual abuse is, who sexual abusers are, how it happens, what the signs and symptoms are, what the long-term consequences are for the abused child and greater society and what steps parents and caregivers can take to prevent it. Curriculum developed by the Child Sexual Abuse Committee of the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, funded by SAMHSA.

PROGRAMS FOR SERVICE PROVIDERS

• Stewards of Children Child Sexual Abuse Prevention program (3-hour program that could be delivered in 2 parts) This nationally recognized, best practice program uses videos, workbook activities and discussion to engage and educate adults involved in child-serving organizations about child sexual abuse and how to keep children safe. Professionals, volunteers and other staff at agencies and community-based organizations learn how to develop policies and practices to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. Named a Noteworthy Program by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, this program has been shown to increase participants’ knowledge, improve their attitudes and change their behavior over the long-term for increased safety of the children in their care. Kristi House educators are certified trainers in this program developed by the Darkness to Light organization.

• Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Training – (3-hour training geared for staff and volunteers of child-serving organizations and programs)
  This workshop provides a basic overview of commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC), the extent of the problem and the impact this type of trauma has on children. It will also include tips for identifying and engaging victims and discussion of services victims need for healing and reintegration into mainstream society. The material is offered in lecture form through a PowerPoint presentation and videos. Group participation is encouraged. Participants will examine the following topics:

• What is the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) – Language and Sensitivity
• CSEC Related Issues: Child Sexual Abuse, Sexual Exploitation of Children, Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking, Sex Trafficking
• CSEC Risk Factors
• Pathways to Entry
• Addressing Demand
• Identification of CSEC Victims
• Impact of CSEC and Needs of Victims
• Tips for service provision (customized for audience)
• (This training is also appropriate for parents/caregivers.)

• CSEC Community Intervention Program (3-day intensive program that trains providers to be within-agency trainers)
  This three-day training was developed with a U.S. Department of Justice Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention grant by U.S. leading organizations addressing the issue of CSEC—GEMS, Polaris Project, Salvation Army and Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition. It is a “Train the Trainer” model, which allows an entire agency or community to come together around this issue and create sustainability when we leave because they will then have their own trainers. The State of Florida through the Department of Children and Families has approved this training to begin implementation of the Florida Safe Harbor Act with the Project GOLD shelter serving as the testbed and model. Kristi House specialists have delivered it to four Florida communities, and other communities outside of Florida.

Contact Dawn Thompson for fee schedule. All training prices include speaker fee, local travel, and all materials for 25 participants.