<p>Youth organizations can add incredible value to communities, providing education, inspiration, and activities for kids. However, the very elements that make youth activities fun can also create a high-risk environment for abuse.</p> <p>A single incident can be devastating for a child and their family. An abuse allegation can also put your organization’s reputation, finances, and operations at risk.</p> <p>A strong abuse prevention strategy can keep your summer youth program running smoothly and help all of your participants participate safely and excited to return next year.</p>

<p>At least 46 teen boys have died by suicide after falling victim to online <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/11/sextortion-nigeria-bm-boys-tiktok">sextortion scams</a> since 2021. The FBI has seen a huge increase in the number of sextortion cases—children and teens being threatened and coerced into sending explicit images online.</p> <h2 id="sextortion-is-a-growing-threat-to-teens">Sextortion is a Growing Threat to Teens</h2> <p>South Carolina <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/29/us/nigerian-extradited-guffey-sextortion-cec/index.html">Representative Brandon Guffy</a> introduced a bill that criminalized sextortion after losing his teenage son, Gavin, to suicide.</p> <p>The teen had been contacted by a Nigerian man masquerading as a young woman on social media who sent Gavin nude photos. He asked for similar images of himself, and once Gavin shared the photos, the suspect threatened to publicize them if he didn’t pay. The teen died by suicide as a result of the sextortion attempt.</p>

<p>Paris Hilton and Assemblyman Tom Lackey, R-Palmdale, have sponsored a bipartisan measure to protect children in the entertainment industry.</p> <h2 id="ca-ab-653-the-child-abuse-mandated-entertainment-reporter-act"><strong>CA AB 653: The Child Abuse Mandated Entertainment Reporter Act</strong></h2> <p><a href="https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB653">California AB 653</a> also known as The Child Abuse Mandated Entertainment Reporter Act, is sponsored by Hilton’s nonprofit 11:11 Media Impact and joint-authored by Assemblymember Blanca Rubio, D-Baldwin Park. </p> <p>AB 653 would add talent agents, talent managers, and talent coaches to the list of professionals required to report suspected child abuse in the state of California.</p>

<p>Healthcare professionals, mental health professionals, and social workers understand the impact of child sexual abuse on their patients.</p> <p>In today’s technologically-dependent world, the children and teens in your care face a rising and insidious threat from predators using technology to gain access to and exploit children online. Online threats to your patients’ safety and well-being bring a unique challenge to healthcare workers who want to prevent patients from becoming victims of online sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA).</p>

<p>As millions of children in the United States return to school, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/know2protect">Know2Protect</a> initiative has launched a #Back2School campaign to help parents, educators, and trusted adults protect their children against online exploitation.</p> <ul> <li>Millions of US children return to school in August and September</li> <li>68% of parents will share pictures of their children online</li> <li>Social sharing increases the risk of child sexual abuse or exploitation</li> <li>#Back2School online safety tips can help protect children</li> </ul> <h2 id="millions-of-us-children-head-back-to-school">Millions of US Children Head Back to School</h2> <p>Millions of children return to school in the United States in late August and early September. It’s an exciting time for many parents; the new school year signifies a new milestone and a chance to show off how much their children have grown over the summer.</p>

<p>Healthcare professionals have direct access to children who are victims of abuse and are in a unique position to identify the physical signs of intentional abuse and neglect. Healthcare professionals understand their role as mandated reporters. However, despite mandated reporting laws requiring them to report suspected abuse and neglect of minors, studies have shown that as many as 40% or more of healthcare professionals around the globe defy those laws and fail to report child abuse.</p>

<p>When first stepping into your role as a mandated reporter, it’s easy to assume that most people could easily define and spot child abuse or neglect. However, bias can impact your initial judgment of a situation and influence what you report or overlook.</p> <p>Biases and personal beliefs can too easily influence a mandated reporter’s decision to report. This creates disparities in reporting impacting some individuals or groups, particularly communities of color or low socioeconomic status, far more than others.</p>

<p>Nevada Department of Health and Human Services Division of Child and Family Services is helping mandated reporters understand how to spot and report suspected abuse and neglect with a new online Mandated Reporter Training system.</p> <h2 id="training-mandated-reporters-in-nevada">Training Mandated Reporters in Nevada</h2> <p>Mandated reporters—persons required by law to report suspected abuse or neglect—can face serious consequences for failing to report. In Nevada, a person who fails to report is guilty of a misdemeanor. Subsequent failures to report are classified as gross misdemeanors, which carry increased fines and longer jail sentences than standard misdemeanors.</p>

<p>Mandated reporters, supporters, and child safety advocates often have to determine what constitutes suspected abuse of a child, and what doesn’t.</p> <p>Supporters have a legal and ethical duty to protect children from abuse and neglect and are willing to do whatever they need to keep children safe. However, one big concern for the professionals legally required to report suspected child abuse is understanding the definitions of abuse.</p> <p>Identifying potential abuse isn’t always a black-or-white issue. When it comes to the discipline of a child by an adult caregiver, the topic can veer into “gray” territory.</p>