BeAlert® is the awareness and prevention strategy of The Stop Trafficking Project®. The primary method of implementation is through high-impact, fast-paced, and evidence-based presentations designed to educate and empower students and guide adults from awareness to action. The BeAlert® Strategy challenges, inspires, educates, and empowers individuals, organizations, and communities to engage by BEING ALERT = BeAlert® and be: Active. Learning. Empowered. Relentless. Together!
THE 2022 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT IS AVAILABLE HERE: Updates
COMMENTS MADE: From a school district administrator: “THANK YOU - I am so optimistic with the future of classroom conversations that can be continued with the 'comfort' of the ‘cola-cockroach' theme to bring those important conversations to all the kids in a non-threatening but memorable way - to be the catalyst to disclose and get the kids the help they need and the police the information they need.” From a school leadership team: “Based on what you taught our adults and from the impact of your age-appropriate student assemblies, please know we have identified forty students in our school who quite likely are victims. We are now active, learning, empowered, relentless, and together identifying the vulnerabilities in these students and working to keep them from being exploited.” From a school counselor: “It’s a miracle! We’ve never seen the students in this school behave and respond so well to an assembly! You really touched their hearts and minds.” From a school nurse: “I’ve cried a lot since hearing you last night. However, I want to thank you for telling our students and all of us as adults as well, the truth! I am going to be paying much closer attention to my students who are engaging in self-harm with a new understanding that there’s likely more here than meets the eye.” From a member of Law Enforcement: “The BeAlert® Strategy is one of the best ways to END it BEFORE it STARTS™!” From a very young elementary age student: “Are you a b-dult?...I really like your dog! Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and that I had so much fun listening to you today…No cockroaches for me!” From a young elementary age student: “Please tell your dog I’m going to be very careful some day when I go online. I don’t even have a phone yet. I’m kinda happy I don’t now.” From an older elementary age student: “My sister got in a lot of trouble with some pictures she took and showed to people. I told her she’s crazy. Now I have proof to back it up cuz she did a really dumb thing!” From a middle school age student: “Um, I think I might need some help. There’s a cockroach in my life…” (The next day a man was arrested and in jail on $1.3 million) From a middle school age student: “I can tell you really miss your friend, Amy. I’m going to think about her a lot and make changes in my life. Thank you for telling us her story.” From a middle school age student: “I’ve tried to kill myself four times. There was so much pressure on me to send nudes. It ruined my life. Thank you for telling the truth about all of this.” From a high school student in a training outside her school: “Wow! That was so powerful! I really hope I can convince the administrators in my school to have you come. My school really needs to hear this!” From a group of three students at a leadership conference: “You came to our school a couple of years ago…Now we are using group chat to stay close to friends rather than some of the popular apps…So many of our friends have had horrible things happen to them online…The chat group is called ‘cola cockroach’! We just thought you might like to know!” From a high school student: “What you talked about today happened to me. I’m doing okay now with counseling and people have gone to jail. But I just wanted to say ‘thank you’ for telling Amy’s story. So many kids need to know the truth like you are telling it. Please don’t stop. From a high school student: “I’ve never heard anyone talk about porn the way you did. It wasn’t awkward or embarrassing but really made sense. A lot of my friends are constantly sharing porn sites and nudes. You are right, porn really is addictive! Most of my friends are even though they probably won’t admit it. I know I am and I’m going to make changes. Amy’s picture in the hospital was a major reality check for me. People are people and not just objects. Thank you for telling us the truth about porn today in my school. That was really brave!”
Designed for Students: Educate and Empower
BeAlert® to Social Media We expose vulnerabilities (loneliness, isolation, depression, suicide ideation, cyberbullying, loneliness, sexting, sextortion, pornography, slavery, pimps, traffickers, spotters, domestic minor sex trafficking) that are easily exploited in students via social media and gaming. These often lead to exploitation that include sexual exploitation and domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST).
Students are educated about this reality and empowered to be safe and keep others safe. The most effective school presentations are the high energy assembly style format heavily dependent on good audio and visual support. A dual track presentation is successful in many settings where caring adults receive training in the same facility simultaneously with the students. At the end of these "dual track’ presentations the students and adults gather for a closing session designed to keep everyone on the same page. All students fill out confidential surveys that provide insight into this reality.
Designed for Adults: Awareness to Action
Caring Adults We offer encouraging reality checks by discussing the reality of DMST in the local community, unpacking the role of social media, discussing apps to be aware of, and providing practical help that can be applied in a variety of settings.
Churches
Sunday morning worship
Dual track presentations
Small groups
Coaching for leaders
Schools
Professional development day training for school personnel
Parent night before student presentations
Community efforts spearheaded by schools
Businesses
Bring awareness and best practice solutions
Provide partnership ideas
Offer creative collaboration efforts
Legislators
Encourage sponsorship of laws that help combat DMST and sex trafficking