DHS celebrates the start of the school year with new tools for schools and teachers to recognize and prevent online child abuse

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, is offering tips and educational materials directly targeted to educators, with the goal of raising awareness of the importance of keeping online safety part of everyone’s back-to-school routine. These Know2Protect resources are part of a new Back2School campaign that connects with dozens of education groups, education associations, youth organizations, and other partners who can reach children in schools throughout the school year.

“The dangerous and all too often tragic reality is that predators target children online,” said Homeland Security Secretary 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 equips teachers, school administrators, and others—the trusted and well-positioned adults in whom children often place their trust—to help their students identify and prevent this crime. With a better understanding of online child sexual exploitation, tips for recognizing it when it occurs, and guidance on how to report incidents, we can protect our children online and spare them from abuse and tragedy.”

“The Know2Protect Back2School resources are easy to understand and will ensure our Scouting parents and youth are better prepared to stay safe online,” explains Glen Pounder, Senior Vice President and Chief Safeguarding Officer at Scouting America. “We are proud of our partnership with DHS and honored to be on the frontlines protecting children and young people online.”

“Empowering children to recognize and avoid the dangers of exploitation and abuse is critical to our mission to ensure every child has a safe childhood,” said Derrick Driscoll, Chief Operating Officer of the National Center for Missing & 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 because together we can make a real difference in protecting and educating our children.”

“Educational professionals are often the first to take action when it comes to the real impact of the horrors of online child exploitation and abuse,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “They are committed to helping children stay safe and supporting them socially and emotionally when they encounter criminal activity. This school year, we are proud to partner with DHS to protect students and their families from this looming and evolving threat.”

“Research shows that there is a link between students’ feelings of safety and security and their brains’ ability to learn,” said Elisa Villanueva Beard, Chief Executive Officer of Teach For America and Chair of the Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council (HSAPC). “DHS’s Know2Protect campaign and the resources it provides are important steps in raising awareness of the prevalence of online threats against our nation’s most valuable resource, our children, and the need for all of us to be active in the effort to address these threats. By working together, we can ensure that every child can learn, lead, and thrive without fear of being targeted online.”

“Keeping students safe online can sometimes seem like an overwhelming task for both teachers and parents,” said Suzanne Walsh, president of Bennett College. “Know2Protect’s Back2School campaign brings all relevant resources into one place. These resources are easy to access and use to help adults help students.”

According to statistics from the Department of Justice, one in five children receives unwanted sexual solicitations online each year. Educating children and teens about these risks and what to do if they are targeted by online predators is essential 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 has partnered with dozens of youth and education groups across the country to share our Back2School resources. Know2Protect has developed several key educational, age-appropriate, downloadable #Back2School with Know2Protect resources to help keep kids safe online:

• Resources for Educationincluding our short iGuardian training videos, Tips2Identify Exploitation and Abuse for Educators, and other tips for kids, teens, and parents to stay safe online.
• Sources2Send Homesuch as the Know2Protect First Day of School Photo Sign, a Family Online Safety Agreement, and an Internet Safety Checklist to encourage families to think about online safety at home.
• Resources2Display at your school, such as digital and printable posters and tip sheets to hang in classrooms, hallways, and more.
• Classroom Activitiessuch as 10 Minutes2Protect activities with Tips2Protect for teens, crossword puzzle, word search, All-out 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/staff lunch-and-learn, or PTA meeting. These age-appropriate educational presentations are delivered by special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the U.S. Secret Service. To date, Know2Protect has trained more than 82,900 adults and children and completed more than 1,000 events and presentations to spread awareness and prevention tactics about online CSEA. To request a presentation, visit www.know2protect.gov/training . The campaign is committed to reaching more than 100,000 people with trainings by the end of this school year.

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

Know2Protect is the first federal government campaign focused on the education and prevention of online CSEA. The campaign’s mission is to mobilize youth, parents, educators, and community leaders to learn the signs of this crime, what they can do to prevent it, how to report it to law enforcement, and how to support survivors. Since launching in April, DHS has established partners in government, education, sports, technology, youth organizations, and several other sectors to meet people where they are and deliver the campaign’s preventative tips to keep kids safe.

Early intervention is critical. If exploitation is occurring, approach conversations with care and empathy and report immediately to the Know2Protect Tipline at 833-591-KNOW (5669) or visit the NCMEC CyberTipline. All information received through the Tipline will be reviewed by appropriate personnel and forwarded to HSI field offices for possible investigation.

eSchool Media staff covers all aspects of education technology, from legislation and litigation to best practices to 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-12 education decision makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.

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