National Educators to Stop Trafficking Adds K-6 Human Trafficking Prevention Programs From Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Feb. 19, 2015 - PRLog -- Human Trafficking is one of the largest criminal enterprises in the United States. The average age of entry into sexual slavery is 12-13, particularly those made vulnerable by challenging family situations. National Educators to Stop Trafficking (NEST) equips teachers and youth leaders with age-appropriate curriculum and resources for Grades K-12 to educate and empower youth so that sexual exploitation and human trafficking become a thing of the past.

Understanding that youth become vulnerable at a very young age, the NEST advisory committee has spent the last several weeks reviewing and vetting numerous K-6 Grade human trafficking prevention curriculums. After much deliberation the committee approved programs created by four highly credited organizations. We are proud to announce them as NEST providers: Child Lures Prevention's Think First & Stay Safe™ School Program (VA); MBF Child Safety Matters™ Program (FL); Sexual Abuse Prevention Program created by KidSafe Foundation (FL); and Safe@Last, a program of the Sexual Assault Center in Nashville (TN).

"The MBF Child Safety Matters™ is an exceptional program and will prevent many children from being victimized at an older age," Yvonne Williams, NEST Coordinator states. MBF Child Safety Matters™ is a comprehensive, research-based curriculum supported by the Florida Department of Education, Department of Children and Families and many other subject matter experts and partner organizations. MBF Child Safety Matters, Florida has enhanced research to support its efficacy, new, fun and more engaging activities for students, easier presentation materials for facilitators that align with Florida Education Standards and the Florida School Counseling Framework, and helps schools meet, the newly passed legislation Chapter 2013-87; bill HB609 requiring cyberbullying education in schools. The program effectively educates and empowers children to actively participate in learning information and strategies to help prevent bullying, cyberbullying, digital abuse, and all forms of child abuse including sex abuse.

Along with MBF Child Safety Matters™, all of the approved curriculum and resources for Grades K-6 offer a variety of age-appropriate safety tips. Each aim to establish common goals such as: child sexual abuse and exploitation are against the law, how to identity trusted adults, setting personal boundaries, teaching and practicing proven prevention strategies from lures used by unsuspecting adults, guidance for disclosure, and more.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, traffickers frequently lure victims by making false promises of love or protection, restricting contact with family and friends, and using threats and violence. These are also tactics common among individuals who sexually abuse children. National research indicates that a child who has been sexually abused is four times more likely to be trafficked for commercial sex than his or her peers (Brantley), thus preventing child sexual abuse is one of the keys to preventing human trafficking.

NEST will be adding a page to their website just for K-6 curriculum and resources to make it easier for educators and youth leaders of these age groups to find applicable data. Visit www.ENSTeducators.org for more information.