DHS marks back to school with new resources for schools and educators to recognize and prevent online child exploitation

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is sharing new resources for educators, school administrators, coaches, and others who work with children and teens to better understand the risks of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) and help them stay safe online. For the first time, Know2Protect, DHS’s national public awareness campaign to prevent online CSEA, offers tips and classroom materials aimed directly at educators, with the goal of raising awareness about the importance of internet safety as part of everyone’s back-to-school routine. These Know2Protect resources are part of a new Back2School campaign that connects with dozens of teaching groups, educational associations, youth-serving organizations, and other partners who can reach children in schools throughout the academic year.

“The dangerous and often tragic reality is that predators target children online.” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Last year, there were more than 36 million reports of online child sexual exploitation worldwide. To combat this scourge, our Know2Protect campaign is empowering teachers, school administrators and others – the trusted, well-placed adults children typically rely on – to help their students identify and prevent this crime. With a better understanding of online child sexual exploitation, tips on how to spot it when it happens, and guidance on how to report incidents, we can protect our children online and save them from abuse and tragedy.”

“Know2Protect Back2School resources are easy to understand and will help ensure our parents and young Scouts are better prepared to stay safe online.” explained Glen Pounder, senior vice president and chief protection officer for Scouting America. “We are proud of our partnership with DHS and honored to be on the front lines helping to protect children and youth online.”

“Empowering children to recognise and avoid the dangers of exploitation and abuse is central to our mission to help ensure that all children have a safe childhood.” said Derrick Driscoll, director of operations for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.“Educational tools and resources, like DHS’s Know2Protect Back2School campaign, play a critical role in this effort. We are honored to partner with them, as together we can make a real difference in protecting and educating our children.”

“Educators are often the first to respond when it comes to dealing with the real-world impact of the horror of online child exploitation and abuse.” said American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten. “They are dedicated to helping children stay safe and providing social and emotional support when they are faced with criminal activity. This back-to-school season, we are proud to work with DHS to protect students and their families from this imminent and ever-evolving threat.”

“Research shows the connection between students’ feelings of safety and security and their brains’ ability to learn.” said Elisa Villanueva Beard, executive director of Teach For America and president of the Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council (HSAPC). “DHS’s Know2Protect campaign and the resources they are providing are important steps in raising awareness about the prevalence of online threats against our country’s most precious resource – our children – and the need for all of us to actively participate in the effort to address these threats. By working together, we can ensure that all children can learn, lead, and thrive without fear of being targeted by online attacks.”

“Keeping students safe online can sometimes seem like a daunting task for educators and parents alike.” said Suzanne Walsh, president of Bennett College. “Know2Protect’s Back2School campaign brings together all relevant resources in one place. These resources are easy to access and use to help adults help students.”

One in five children receives an unwanted sexual request online each year, according to Department of Justice StatisticsEducating children and teens about these risks and what to do if they are targeted by online predators is key to preventing these heinous crimes. To reach more children and teens during the busy back-to-school season, Know2Protect is supporting teachers, coaches, and school administrators who will be spending more time with children as the school year begins. children as the school year begins.

To reach as many students as possible, Know2Protect is connecting with dozens of educational and youth-serving associations across the country to share our Back2School resources. Know2Protect has developed several important, age-appropriate, downloadable educational resources. #Back2School with resources from Know2Protect To help keep children safe online:

• Resources for educationincluding our short training videos on iGuardian, tips for identifying exploitation and abuse for educators, and other tips to keep kids, teens, and parents safe online.
• Resources2Send Homesuch as Know2Protect's First Day of School Poster, a Family Online Safety Agreement, and an Internet Safety Checklist to encourage families to think about online safety at home.
• Resources to display at your school, such as digital and printable posters and tip sheets to display in classrooms, hallways, and more.
• Classroom Activitiessuch as 10 Minutes2Protect activities using Tips2Protect for teens, crossword puzzles, word searches, complete bingo, Project iGuardian coloring pages, and Project iGuardian avatars.

Educators and administrators can also book a free in-person or virtual training for their school, after-school program, teacher and staff luncheon-to-learn, or Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting. These age-appropriate educational presentations are provided by special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Secret Service. To date, Know2Protect has educated more than 82,900 adults and children and completed more than 1,000 events and presentations to spread awareness and prevention tactics about online child sexual abuse. To request a presentation, visit www.know2protect.gov/trainingThe campaign is committed to reaching more than 100,000 people through training before the end of this school year.

Back2School resources build on Know2Protect’s ongoing efforts to reach children, parents, and trusted adults where they are through innovative partnerships with technology companies, national and international sports leagues, youth-serving organizations and nonprofits, and other private sector partners. Beginning in August, Project iGuardian, Know2Protect’s in-person educational arm, will partner with the National Association of Police Athletic/Activity Leagues (PAL), which has more than 300 chapters serving two million youth annually, to provide in-person training. Lamar Advertising is featuring Know2Protect PSAs on digital billboards nationwide. NASCAR is featuring educational content for kids on its NASCAR Kids homepage and disseminating partner tips through its online newsletter. More partner activations are planned to launch in the coming days and weeks.

Know2Protect is the federal government’s first campaign focused on education and prevention of online commercial sexual exploitation. The campaign’s mission is to mobilize youth, parents, educators, and community leaders to know the signs of this crime, what they can do to prevent it, how to report it to law enforcement, and how they can help survivors. Since its launch in April, DHS has established partners in government, education, sports, technology, youth-serving organizations, and several other industries to reach people where they are and provide them with the campaign’s preventative tips to keep children safe.

Early intervention is crucial. If exploitation occurs, approach conversations with care and empathy and report it immediately to the Know2Protect hotline at 833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the Know2Protect website. NCMEC Cyber ​​Tip LineAll information received through the tip line will be reviewed by appropriate personnel and forwarded to HSI field offices for possible investigation.

The eSchool Media staff covers educational technology in all its aspects, from legislation and litigation to best practices, lessons learned, and new products. First published in March 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information needed to help K-20 decision makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and universities and achieve their educational goals.

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