Since its advent in 1986, Month of the Military Child is a time to recognize the sacrifice and bravery of the military children in our country. Every April we turn our attention to the unique experiences of more than 1.6 million military children. Military families relocate an average of every two to three years. Constantly changing schools and support networks is never easy and can be especially challenging for kids. Military children face unique risks due to their parent/guardian's military service, including high stress, mental health issues, bullying, and even human trafficking.
JKO maintains a strategic partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) Program Management Office (PMO), and aided in developing a new course, specifically for military-connected children. The CTIP Student Guide to Preventing Human Trafficking course teaches military-connected high school students (10th – 12th grade) about human trafficking. Teens will understand how human trafficking is occurring in student settings and particularly online where exploitation of children and teens is increasingly occurring.
As we celebrate and thank our military children this month, we'd like to take this opportunity to showcase the great work being done by CTIP to educate and protect military children from the dangers of human trafficking.
This specialized prevention course teaches students the issues of human trafficking in ways that are age-appropriate and relevant to high school military-connected students. The creative design approach moves online education away from the standard, computer-based review and assessment to a multimedia-rich experience.
The course includes:
- blocks of learning delivered as 5-10 minute “action cards”
- peer conversations, survivor stories, graphic novels, and social media platforms
- micro-content, short videos, games, and self-assessments
Students finish with an understanding of the nature and scope of human trafficking, the signs and indicators, how to recognize potential trafficking situations, and how to seek help and report suspicious behavior. In every lesson, a way to seek help is prominently displayed.
The course is now featured on the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) website. DoDEA, is a federally operated school system responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and managing prekindergarten through 12th grade educational programs on behalf of the Department of Defense (DoD)DOD. DoDEA , operates 160 accredited schools in 11 foreign countries, 7 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
The course is accompanied by a Parent Resource Guide for military-connected parents, which explains to parents why it is important to educate students about human trafficking and accompanies parents through the topics covered by the course.
JKO is proud of our role in enabling CTIP to provide this important training for our military-connected children.
Get Help
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678)