Family Education Day provides a safe and approachable space for families to understand and respond to human trafficking.
“Thrive” by Fiona Miller
Since we know that children and teens are the most vulnerable to exploitation, this event aims to equip parents, kids and teens. Age-appropriate content will be available for 3-6, 7-9, 10-13 and 14-16 year olds. A food truck will be available on site to purchase lunch, with vegetarian and gluten free options available. By creating spaces to learn and serve as a family we hope Family Education Day will be a launching point for attendees to feel confident in comprehending and appropriately responding to this complex issue.
Thank you to those who participated in our inaugural family event!
What problem is being addressed?
Making kids aware of labor trafficking demand reduction strategies (Who made my clothes? Who picked and packed the food on my table?)
Equipping kids to be safe online
Empowering kids to say no to inappropriate images or touch
What are goals for the day?
Empowered kids who not only keep themselves safe from grooming and exploitation, but who can recognize signs and appropriately respond to suspected cases among their peers
Equipped parents who can create safe communities for their own children and those around them.
Inspired people who go on to launch awareness campaigns and create meaningful change in the face of this complex issue.
What will we be doing?
The following age groups will have developmentally appropriate activities designed by professionals in the field of child development. We will not be talking with kids under 12 years old directly about human trafficking. Instead they will be exploring topics that can empower them to reduce the demand for labor trafficking (exploring who grew the food I eat or who made the clothes I wear?) and to avoid the vulnerabilities that lead to grooming, exploitation and ultimately human trafficking. We have partnered with the Center for Family Safety and Healing as well as Gracehaven to provide age-appropriate content developed by experts in the field. Certified clinicians, social workers and counselors will be on site that day to ensure a safe environment for all, and to allow room to process anything that comes up within the activities and workshops.
This is a sample of what will be offered; a more robust schedule and speaker biographies will be added as details are finalized:
3-6 year olds: Discovering where the foods we eat and clothes we wear are made
7-9 year olds: Using music to safely explore feelings
10-13 year olds: Healthy relationships, safety online
14-16 year olds: Appropriate use of social media, how to engage in the fight against human trafficking or report suspected cases
There will also be workshops available for parents and caregivers. These will include She Has A Name’s Human Trafficking 101 as well as other workshops related to understanding vulnerabilities that might lead to exploitation, and how to appropriately respond to suspected cases.
In addition to educational opportunities and engaging activities, there will also be food trucks on site to provide lunch for you and your family!
