The exploitation of minors is an alarming reality in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, 53% of teens say online harassment and online bullying are a major problem for people their age. Between 2021 and 2023, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children's CyberTipline saw a 323% increase in online enticement, a form of exploitation involving communicating online with someone believed to be a child with the intent to commit a sexual offense or abduction, with sextortion being a major contributing factor. The U.S. Department of State cites that an estimated 41% of child trafficking experiences are facilitated by family members and/or caregivers.
Addressing the great need for exploitation prevention education, iEmpathize assembled a team, including survivors of human trafficking and experts in the fields of education, psychology, law enforcement, and victim advocacy, to develop content that addresses issues of exploitation without sensationalizing concepts. The Empower Youth Program equips students with prevention strategies to identify threats and stay safe from exploitation. To date, this curriculum is in schools in 26 states, licensed for over 40,000 youth.
“The Empower Youth Program teaches students life skills necessary to take on some of life’s most difficult challenges. The presentations are inspirational and filled with useful advice. The videos share stories of real people with real life experiences that students can connect with. My students have bonded more and supported each other more and gained more trust for each other. Thank you for taking the time to help my students grow emotionally!”
The Empower Youth Program is licensed on a one-year term basis.
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