Protect Me Project

One supportive response can make a lasting difference.

👀 Pay attention
🗣 Take concerns seriously
🛑 Speak up early

Awareness becomes protection when action follows.
*Look up what your local child abuse hotline number is!

How can we tell if someone is a safe adult vs unsafe? 🚩

Safe, trusted adults:
✅ Respects boundaries of kids and parents/guardians
✅ Includes parents/guardians in communication and interaction
✅ Does not ask to keep or tell secrets
✅ Encourages healthy relationships with friends, family and peers
✅ Avoid inappropriate conversations, comments or jokes

Unsafe behaviors or red flags of grooming:
❌ Overstepping boundaries or ignoring parent/guardian rules
❌ Asking or pressuring kids to keep secrets
❌ Isolates child from family, friends and peers; constantly seeking alone time
❌ Sexualizing conversations, jokes or interactions
❌ Showing unusual favoritism towards one child through special gifts, private outings, or excessive attention- especially when secrecy is involved

➡These are only a few behaviors to pay attention to! Pay attention to patterns, not just isolated moments. Healthy relationships are built on TRUST, RESPECT, and TRANSPARENCY—not secrecy, pressure, or control.

🔗https://sharedhope.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Safe-Adult-Fact-Sheet_6.14.21.pdf
https://www.nationalchildrensalliance.org/the-real-red-flags-of-grooming/

📱 This week’s focus: Online Grooming

Technology has opened so many doors for learning, being creative, and staying connected. HOWEVER, it has also created new ways for predators to manipulate and exploit children.

After 2020, recruitment for human trafficking went online. According to Polaris, there was 125% increase of recruiting on facebook and 95% increase on Instagram. (1)

In 2024, NCMEC has received more than 456,000 reports of online enticement. Online Enticement: Individual who communicates online with someone believed to be a child with intent for sexual abuse or kidnapping. (2)

It doesn’t always look dangerous.
It often starts with a message, a comment, or a conversation. 💬

This week, we’re breaking down:
👀 Where it happens
⚠️ Warning signs to watch for
🛡 How to stay safe

🔗:
(1) https://polarisproject.org/2020-us-national-human-trafficking-hotline-statistics/
(2) https://www.missingkids.org/theissues/onlineenticement