As children across the country begin their transition back to school, Shared Hope offers many resources to help educate and equip schools to bring awareness to DMST (domestic minor sex trafficking).
When the pandemic hit, closing most schools and driving students online, we upped our focus to help further protect our kids online with our internet safety series. In this, regardless if students are attending their schools online or in person, Shared Hope is ready to meet them and their teachers where they are.
But, to do this, we need your help.
Connecting Resources To Needs: One Example
Recently, we received a report from one of Shared Hope’s Ambassadors of Hope on what they are doing to plant a seed with their school district in bringing our curriculum to their schools. If you ever wondered about what you can do to help make a difference in protecting our kids at school, here’s a glimpse of Ambassador’s Butch and Jean meeting with their local school board as well as a great example of what Shared Hope has to offer in resources for schools.
“My wife and I met with the School Board at our local school district this week. We had requested a month ago to be added to the agenda to talk about DMST and Shared Hope’s education tools we can offer to the district this coming school year.
The meeting went well with fifteen people in attendance. We only had a short time, so we made envelopes of Shared Hope International info for each of the 6 board members, the District Admin. and the new JR/HS Principal. This seemed to work well and they appreciated the ability to look over examples of what SHI has for resources. We also had our display poster board as an example titled “It is happening here” to help dispel the myth that we are isolated from DMST. The meeting went well and we were able to engage the school board to consider working HT into this coming year’s curriculum. We were quickly able to reference our flexibility to meet the need for awareness and prevention for students, staff, as well as parents.
I want to highlight that the letter to parents explaining what “Chosen” is and the talking points tip sheet with bullet points is a great resource to include in the info pkgs. I was able to reference that sometimes when parents hear that the school is considering having a presentation in their curriculum about Human and Sex Trafficking there may be anxiety and questions. We highlighted that the school could use this letter as a template to help parents understand what is being presented. We also included the bullets of what Chosen is and other helpful materials, such as the “How to Keep Kids Safe Online” booklet.
The new principal transferred from another school district where we have not yet been able to present. In being able to support him here, we feel it may have opened a door of opportunity to reach that northern district as well.
Overall a good evening and having the info packages was a really good way to give them more information when we only had a short time to speak on the agenda. Looking forward to the upcoming school year and the ability to be in the classroom with students again.”
What If?
Did you know that there are approximately 13,800 public school districts in the United States? These districts collectively educate approximately 55.2 million students. What if we could reach each one with the message of Shared Hope and the awareness that DMST is real and is happening there?
What Are Ambassadors Of Hope?
Ambassadors are trained volunteers, active in their communities preventing trafficking through education. Whether it is hosting a table at a local event, speaking to students, advocating online for a state bill, or leading a session for parents, Shared Hope equips you with all the training and tools you’ll need to educate your community and prevent sex trafficking.
Are you passionate about preventing sex trafficking in your community? We invite you to apply to become an Ambassador of Hope and make a difference in your hometown!
Like Butch and Jean, you too, can help make a difference. You can apply to become an Ambassador of Hope here.
What if every school in America had an Ambassador of Hope to help connect resources to needs and to further protect our children from DMST? What if that Ambassador of Hope was you?
