Host a Training
As part of our Community Outreach Initiative, Mission Kids provides several prevention programs addressing child abuse throughout Montgomery County. While Mission Kids has outstanding services to child sexual abuse victims, it is our desire to reduce and eliminate the needs for services. These programs help reduce the number of children victimized in our community.
Prevention Education & Training
Check out the various Prevention Education workshops we have for both children and adults.
For more information, contact: Michelle McDyre, Prevention Education and Outreach Manager, at: mmcdyre@missionkidscac.org
For Kids: "ROAR" Lesson
“ROAR” is a child-based education program that teaches children ages 4-8 body safety and empowers them to raise their voices to speak out against abuse. The interactive and easy to implement lesson is designed to be taught in a classroom or group setting. A lion named Rex and his animal friends take children on journey to find his ROAR, a simple and memorable acronym that teaches children that their bodies are their own and empowers children to stand up against abuse.
ROAR empowers children to understand personal body safety, speak out against abuse, and identify three safe adults to go to when they feel unsafe.
This year, we’ll be offering our “ROAR” Program virtually OR in-person, at the discretion of the school district.
These lessons are needed now, more than ever. Due to school closures and stay-at-home orders throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic, students are disconnected from safe adults such as teachers, counselors, and coaches. Children who are isolated from safe adults are at a higher risk of being abused. We know now, more than ever, children need these important lessons and resources.
Please help us keep kids safe: We're encouraging every school in Montgomery County to include this important child abuse prevention and body safety lesson for children in grades K-2 in their plans for the upcoming school year.
For more information about "ROAR," Contact Michelle McDyre at mmcdyre@missionkidscac.org or 484-687-2990, ext.1016
For Teens: 'Not a Number' Workshop
'Not a Number' is an interactive child trafficking and exploitation prevention curriculum designed to provide youth ages 12-18 with information and skills in a manner that inspires them to make safe choices when they encounter potentially exploitative situations and utilize healthy support systems that may decrease their vulnerabilities.
Through open conversations, engaging activities, the use of media, and opportunities for self-disclosure, participants will:
- Raise their awareness of what constitutes human trafficking and exploitation.
- Learn how to recognize recruitment tactics and understand vulnerabilities.
- Challenge harmful stereotypes and societal attitudes.
- Identify healthy support systems.
- Develop skills to safely navigate potential and existing exploitative situations.
- Learn how to access community resources when situations occur that increase their vulnerability (or if exploitation is already underway).
Watch the 'Not a Number' Video to learn more.
For more information about "Not a Number," Contact Michelle McDyre at mmcdyre@missionkidscac.org or 484-687-2990, ext.1016
For Adults: "Darkness to Light's Stewards of Children" Training
Darkness to Light’s “Stewards of Children” program teaches adults how to prevent, recognize, and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. It’s the only nationally distributed, evidence-based program proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes, and change child protective behaviors.
We know that when adults are trained, they take the steps to protect children from sexual abuse. Participants will learn from survivors who lived through child sexual abuse, experienced its immediate and long-term effects, and ultimately were able to find healing. Participants will also learn from experts who work with children and families and confront abuse on a daily basis and will find concrete steps that they can take to protect the children in their lives.
For more information, or to schedule your FREE “Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children” Training, please contact Michelle McDyre or call 484-687-2990, ext. 1016.
For Caregivers: "Not a Number" Commercial Sexual Exploitation Prevention Program
Join Mission Kids on Wednesday, March 9th from 6:00-8pm
to learn about Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children, and how kids and teens are vulnerable to these crimes.
REGISTER NOW!
The Need for this Workshop:
For Adults: "A Collaborative Approach to Child Abuse Cases/ Mission Kids 101"
Learn more about the multidisciplinary investigative team response to Child Abuse Allegations.
This presentation is a great introduction for audiences who want to learn more about child abuse, Mission Kids, and the Child Advocacy Center response in responding to suspicions of abuse.
In this workshop, we cover topics such as:
- Child Abuse Indicators & Red Flags
- Child Abuse Risk Factors/Protective Factors
- How to respond to a suspicion or disclosure of child abuse; including minimal facts and mandated reporting
- The Child Advocacy Center (CAC) model and the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) approach to child abuse cases
- What we all must do to keep kids safe!
For Educators: "Child Abuse & Trauma-informed Classrooms: A Collaborative Workshop"
Mission Kids has partnered with Creative Health Services to provide educators and school personnel with a Collaborative Workshop that explores the effects of child abuse and trauma on children and the impact on their behavior in the classroom and their overall academic performance.
Learn from Creative Health’s Kala Fell, LMFT, who is the on-site Trauma Therapist and Clinical Liaison to Mission Kids, along with Michelle McDyre, Prevention Education & Outreach Manager at Mission Kids. This workshop is perfect for in-service days or professional development days for school employees. This workshop is dynamic and can be tailored to the needs, interests, and time constraints of the audience.
Workshop Learning Objectives include:
- Participants will learn about the dynamics of child abuse and the signs, symptoms, and short-term and long-term effects of trauma and adverse childhood experiences, which will help them address the needs of individual students who have experienced child abuse or other trauma.
- Participants will learn how trauma affects classroom performance and academic achievement
- Participants will learn how to foster a “wellness culture” for students who may have experienced trauma and feel more empowered to use a trauma-informed approach.
- By understanding the dynamics and effects of child abuse and trauma, participants will be better able to integrate this knowledge more deeply into the day-to-day life students in order to improve learning and raise academic achievement.
Childhood Trauma Affects at least 1 in 4 students in EVERY classroom... EVERY day!
For more information, or to bring this Collaborative Workshop to your school, please contact Michelle McDyre or call 484-687-2990, ext. 1016.
For Educators: "Beyond the Curriculum: Confronting CSEC in our Classrooms"
Mission Kids presents a comprehensive 2-hour training to help educators understand Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) & Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and how they can recognize and respond appropriately to students who may be vulnerable to these crimes.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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Participants will learn the definition of "sex trafficking," "commercial sexual exploitation of children," and "child sexual abuse materials." Participants will gain an understanding of the federal and PA state laws in place related to the commercial sexual exploitation of minors.
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Participants will examine the vulnerabilities and risk factors that make a child more susceptible to being commercially sexually exploited (CSE). School personnel will also learn to identify the red flags and indicators of CSE that children may present in the school setting.
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By understanding the methods of recruitment and conditioning used by exploiters and traffickers, participants will be able to better comprehend and respond to the complex trauma experienced by child victims.
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Participants will learn to engage with child victims in a trauma-informed manner. School personnel will learn the appropriate steps to take if they suspect CSE and what resources they can utilize to best support the child.
WHY EDUCATORS?
Schools have a unique opportunity to identify warning signs, provide prevention education, promote a safe and supportive environment, and offer a trauma-informed and compassionate response to victims.
WHO SHOULD BE TRAINED?
From classroom teachers, to school counselors, to administrators and school support staff, it's vital that every school employee confronts the truth about CSEC and commits to keeping kids safe.
LEARN MORE:
Contact Michelle McDyre, Mission Kids' Prevention Education and Outreach Manager, to learn more about this presentation and to schedule your training.
Email: mmcdyre@missionkidscac.org
Phone: 484-687-2990 ext. 1016
For Social Service Providers: Human Trafficking and Commercial Sexual Exploitation Training
Mission Kids has partnered with the Salvation Army's 'New Day to Stop Trafficking' and the Victim Services Center of Montgomery County to offer social service agencies with a Collaborative Workshop that provides an overview of the complex issue of sex trafficking and the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC). The goal of the 2-hour workshop is to empower social service providers to identify and response appropriately to victims of exploitation.
Workshop Learning Objectives include:
- Participants will learn about the federal and state laws in place related to the sex trafficking of minors and adults, and be able to legally define the term ‘sex trafficking.’
- Participants will examine the vulnerabilities and risk factors that make a person more susceptible to being trafficked. Participants will also learn to identify the red flags and indicators of sex trafficking among minors and adults.
- By understanding the methods of recruitment and conditioning used by traffickers, participants will be able to better comprehend and respond to the complex trauma experienced by survivors.
- Participants will learn to engage with survivors in a culturally competent, person-centered, and trauma-informed manner. Participants will also be provided with resources to utilize when working with survivors to improve comprehensive and cohesive care across disciplines.
For more information, or to bring this Collaborative Workshop to your agency, please contact Michelle McDyre or call 484-687-2990, ext. 1016.
For Medical Providers: "Recognizing and Responding to Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC)"
Mission Kids has partnered with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to offer medical professionals a Collaborative Workshop that provides an overview of the complex issue of sex trafficking, Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC), and Child Sexual Abuse Materials (CSAM). The goal of the 2-hour workshop is to empower medical providers to identify and response appropriately to minor victims of exploitation.
Workshop Learning Objectives include:
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Participants will learn the definition of "sex trafficking," "commercial sexual exploitation of children," and "child sexual abuse materials." Participants will gain an understanding of the federal and PA state laws in place related to the commercial sexual exploitation of minors.
-
Participants will examine the vulnerabilities and risk factors that make a child more susceptible to being commercially sexually exploited (CSE). Medical providers will also learn to identify the red flags and indicators of CSE that children may present in a healthcare setting.
-
By understanding the methods of recruitment and conditioning used by exploiters and traffickers, participants will be able to better comprehend and respond to the complex trauma experienced by child victims.
-
Participants will learn to engage with child victims in a trauma-informed manner. Medical providers will learn the appropriate steps to take if they suspect CSE and what resources they can utilize to best support the child.
For more information, or to bring this Collaborative Workshop to your agency, please contact Michelle McDyre or call 484-687-2990, ext. 1016.
For Law Enforcement: "Investigating Exploitation: Confronting Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children In our
Training Details:
Learning Objectives:
- Gain an understanding of the federal and PA state laws in place related to the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC);
- Learn about "Child Sexual Abuse Materials" (CSAM) and the scope of the problem, including the impact on the child victim;
- Examine the vulnerabilities and risk factors that make a child more susceptible to CSEC;
- Identify the red flags and indicators of CSE that children may present;
- Understand the methods of recruitment and conditioning used by perpetrators;
- Learn about the interconnection between prostitution and sex trafficking and increase your understanding about the need for demand-driven investigations and the use of discretion;
- Learn the appropriate steps to take if you suspect CSE and what resources you can utilize in your investigation to best support the child.
Presenters:
Connie Marinello
Detective, Upper Merion Police Department
Hannah Cornell
External Affairs Manager, Mission Kids
Michelle McDyre
Prevention Education Manager, Mission Kids
Questions? Contact Michelle McDyre at mmcdyre@missionkidscac.org.
As part of our Community Outreach Initiative, Mission Kids facilitates trainings, speaking engagements, and presentations, and attends fairs and community outreach events. While the specific focus of our education programming is directed to elementary-aged students, educators, child-serving professionals, community leaders, businesses, and foster care families, presentations can be tailored to fit the needs of any groups or organizations.
Please complete the form below to request a training or presentation.
