Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana

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  • HOME
  • BE A BIG
    • Be A Big
    • Big FAQs
  • GET A BIG
    • LEARN MORE
    • Enroll Your Child Now
    • Safety Within A Match
  • DONATE
    • Donate Online
    • Matching Gifts
  • SERVICES
    • Programs
    • Resources >
      • LGBTQ
  • ABOUT
    • Careers
    • Our Mission & Impact
    • Staff/Board of Directors
    • Big Leadership Team / Advisory Councils
    • Financials / Privacy Policy
    • Contact Us
  • EVENTS
    • Links for Littles
    • For Kids' Sake

Youth Safety

Child safety is our number one priority at Big Brothers Big Sisters. We work closely with your family, your child, and your child's Big to maintain their safety at all times. Unfortunately, we know all too well that children are at higher safety risks due to peer pressure, bullying, social media, age, neurodevelopment, and certain life circumstances. Our goal is to ensure the safety and protection of all children, both while in a match in our program and at home or in the community. Please use and share the information provided below and reach out to the agency or your Match Support Specialist for further support.  
Safety Within A Match
Family Resources

Interactions with Law Enforcement
*Trigger Warning*
"Black Parents Explain How to Deal with Police" - Cut
"ACLU: Here's what you should or shouldn't do if you are stopped by police" - Business Insider
Media exposure is something that occurs on a daily basis for our Littles. Like us, our Littles see injustices at the hands of some law enforcement officers portrayed on our TV screens, news apps, and social media outlets. It's important to acknowledge the fears that our Littles have in this climate. While we have many Bigs and Parents/Guardians who serve honorably as police officers, we need to acknowledge and validate the fears of our youth, respond and guide appropriately, and work towards a solution for a more peaceful and just tomorrow. 

Before interacting with police, take the time to know your rights. This ACLU website offers prompts, scenario examples, and other helpful information. The page is offered in Spanish/Espanol as well.

Additional resources to guide these important conversations with youth: 
  • America Has Lost It's Heart and That Hurts Us All 
  • Talking to Children about Police Brutality
  • Having 'The Talk': Expert Guidance On Preparing Kids For Police Interactions​

Encountering Racism
"Because I'm Latino, I can't have money? Kids on race." -WNYC
"A Kids Book about Racism by Jelani Memory"
​- A Kids Book About
Racism can look a multitude of ways: "can I touch your hair?," "where are you from?," "oh, you live in the bad part of town," or "aren't all Black people good at sports?"

Micro-aggressions and blatant racism are something that we know our youth face while interacting with peers at school, watching it portrayed in a cartoon show, seeing it reported on the news, or elsewhere. At Big Brothers Big Sisters, we encourage our Bigs to engage in several trainings to learn how to have conversations with Littles around these challenging topics. These conversations are an excellent opportunity for youth to learn about race, explore similarities, celebrate differences, and work towards unity within their community.

Find suggested reading material for how to have these difficult conversations about race on our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page, with even more suggested reading materials on racism and recent protests here. 

Articles to help open and lead these conversations with youth: ​
  • ​Four Tips For Having Healthy Conversations With Mentees About Race
  • Black Pain, Black Joy, and Racist Fear: Supporting Black Children In A Hostile World
  • Talking To Children After Racial Incidents
  • Your Kids Aren't Too Young to Talk about Race 
  • Guide to Mentoring Boys and Young Men of Color
​
Additional Resources:
  • This article by National Geographic advises families about how to talk to their child about race.
  • Howard Stevenson, a clinical psychologist, professor, and expert in racial literacy leads a powerful discussion in this article. 
  • Showing Up for Racial Justice

Social Media / Cyber Bullying

"Teen Voices: Oversharing and Social Media" - Common Sense Education
"Cyberbullying: There is a Way Out" - DeleteCyberBullying
Social media is an integral part of our children's lives. It is a great way to stay connected with friends/family, but can also cause severe safety concerns if not used cautiously and safely. Youth should be informed of the dangers of giving out personal information, posting pictures, having location enabled on social media apps, and contacting strangers online. Unfortunately, with increased social media use, also comes the risk of cyberbullying.  

Bullying (both in person and online) can include spreading rumors/gossip, exclusion, sharing personal information, name calling, threats to physcial and mental health, and physical harassment/assault. Relational aggression, in particular, is an imbalance in perceived power which is used to manipulate someone or make them feel excluded. 

Steps to take if you are being cyberbullied: click here! 

Online Resources:​
  • No Bullying.com: The World’s Authority on Bullying: No Bullying is an online forum aimed at educating, advising, counseling, and stoping bullying.
  • NetSmartz Workshop: An interactive, educational program of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) that provides age-appropriate resources to help teach children how to be safer on- and offline. 
  • ​StaySafe.org: Online safety for teens.
  • The Ophelia Project: Our mission is to empower all members of a community to recognize and address relational aggression through systemic change in the social culture.
  • The Helpful Counselor: Series on relational aggression between girls.  ​​
  • Our June 2020 Newsletter: preventing, recognizing and addressing cyberbullying.

 Underage Use of Drugs and Alcohol

"Talk. They hear you." - SAMSHA
"Strategies for parents to prevent underage drinking" - City of Hamilton
A young person's brain does not fully develop until the age of 25. Underage use of alcohol and other drugs can negatively impact brain development, so much so, that early exposure can result in higher risks for alcoholism in the future and higher likelihood for mental health diagnoses such as depression and anxiety. Drugs and alcohol can physically change the chemical balances in your brain and, in excess, can result in permanent damages to your brain or even death.

We always want to believe our youth are being safe in their choices, especially when it comes to alcohol and other drugs. However, we understand that when it comes to peer relationships, teens can feel pressured to engage in risky behaviors. 

Here's what we know about teen usage:
  • The National Institute Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH) estimates that over 58% of youth under the age of 18 have had at least one sip of alcohol. 
  • In a study from October 2019, 28% of high schoolers had reported they vaped in the last month, while 11% of middle schoolers reported the same. 
  • A pediatrician led study in January 2020 found that 14% of teens reported to have misused a prescription drug at some point in their lives.

Advice from SAMSHA:
  • For Parents:​
    • Ask your children what they know about alcohol and other drugs
    • Have open conversations about alcohol and other drugs 
    • Set clear expectations and limits around alcohol and other drugs
    • Share articles, watch documentaries, and learn with your children
  • For Youth: 
    • Lead by example
    • Set healthy boundaries with your friends 
    • Ask your parents questions about alcohol and other drugs
    • Research the long-term effects on your body

Additional online resources:
  • American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry shares a comprehensive list of risk factors that indicate characteristics of children more likely to use alcohol and/or other drugs.
  • Michigan Medicine offers warning signs, risk factors, and information about both short-term and long-term effects of alcohol and/or other drug use underage.
  • The Child Mind Institute offers a list of terms and social phrases that parents should know and how to address them.
  • SAMSHA's website is all encompassing: offering tips, conversation starters, warning signs, statistics and so much more.

Sex and Human Trafficking 

"Tools that Teach: What is Human Trafficking?" -Department of Homeland Security
human trafficking hotline
Humantraffickinghotline.org
Human and sex trafficking happens in all 50 states. Those who recruit victims are known as traffickers. Traffickers target victims who are classmates, peers, family friends, or neighbors. They take time to get to know their victims, establish trust, and learn how to lure them in. Human and sex trafficking is something that should be discussed with youth because children are becoming targets at an increasing rate. The average age of youth, both boys and girls, to be trafficked is 13 years of age, sometimes as young as 9 years of age.

​Human and sex traffickers do not discriminate, but prey on our most vulnerable youth. Youth who are more at-risk include those who have experienced homelessness,  have a history of maltreatment and/or system involvement, and those who live in poverty. As traffickers are also opportunists, they use large events to blend in and complete "transactions" or to recruit new victims. In Kentucky, the Derby, Thunder over Louisville, and NCAA games are some of the most popular events for trafficking.

Signs that someone you know may be a victim of trafficking:
  • Unexplained new clothing or gifts
  • Suddenly over-tired
  • Secretive with their phone/social media accounts
  • Sudden sexualized behavior, language, or manner of dress
  • Bragging about making money or suddenly seems to have a lot of money
  • Begins to hang out with older friends or they make changes in their relationships with friends (becoming distant or isolated)
  • Unexplained injuries or bruises
  • Withdrawing from usual activities 

Any signs of the above are a cause to ask questions. If you suspect someone you know is being trafficked, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

Online Resources:
  • Internet Safety 101: Offering definitions, warning signs, additional resources and tips to protect teens.
  • Human Trafficking Search: More ways to identify potential victims and risks of human trafficking.
  • One More Child: A Christian based organization, One More Child works both domestically and internationally to reduce human trafficking efforts.
  • ASU School of Social Work Office of Trafficking Sex Intervention: An online brochure that can be used as a toolkit for parents.
  • Kentucky Department of Education: Comprehensive list of resources, laws to protect victims with specific statutes for reference, and protocols for educators.
  • For definitions specific to trafficking, please visit an online glossary here.

Experiencing School Violence 
"Teen Health: Violence Prevention" -Penn State PRO Wellness
*Trigger Warning*
​"Sandy Hook Promise: Evan's Story" -Sandy Hook Promise
"Area School Superintendents & Hardin County Law Enforcement Discuss School Safety" -HCEC TV
There have been more than 400 school shootings since 2010. In 2019 alone, there were 45 school shootings. As this reality of school violence can happen anywhere, at anytime, schools have taken precautionary measures and have youth participate in lockdown and active shooter drills on a regular basis. Unfortunately, these drills may also have a negative impact on children's sense of stress and safety at school. 

While the pronounced fear of school shootings is ever-present within our schools, students also see verbal and physical assaults take place amongst peers. Witnessing these violences can have an impact not only on a child's ability to learn in school, but their mental health as well.

Leading conversations with youth about school violence is a first step to help them understand their feelings and deal with any possible trauma they may have already witnessed. Check out these articles to help open and lead these conversations with youth: ​
  • ​When Disaster Strikes: Talking to Children about Traumatic Events
  • How to Explain School Shootings to Your Kids 
  • School Shootings and Other Traumatic Events: How to Talk to Students
  • Talking to Kids about School Safety

Additional Online Resources:
  • JCPS School Safety: JCPS has a portion of their website dedicated to local resources and in-house policies and procedures for JCPS parents and students.
  • Kentucky Center for School Safety: procedures, resources, handouts, and training opportunities.
  • ​CDC: a violence prevention PDF including facts, statistics, and ways to reduce school violence.
text tips to 66746
Call the kentucky safe school hotline now
report suspicious in-school behavior online here

LGBTQ Discrimination
"How to Support Transgender Students"
​- GLSEN
"Advice for LGBTQ+ teens" - Seventeen
LGBTQ Main Page
Youth and adults that identify with the LGBTQ community know all too well how common LGBTQ+ discrimination is. In fact, in many areas across the United States, it is still legal to discriminate against someone in the job field or housing market, simply due to their gender or orientation.

​For our youth, school can be especially challenging, as protections from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity are not adequate or enforced in many areas. For example, in a recent study by GLSEN, 88% of LGBTQ youth heard homophobic remarks at school on a regular basis. This can lead to a multitude of negative health outcomes for our youth, including low self-esteem/self-image, depression, isolation and withdrawal from peers/family, and higher likelihood of self-harm and suicide ideation. 
​
To help protect our youth against this discrimination, check out the following safety tips and resources for LGBTQ Youth :
  • Safety Tips for LGBTQ Youth to Protect Themselves Against Human Trafficking
  • Back to School Safety Tips​
  • Surround yourself with positive individuals that support you
  • Join community groups such as a local GSA or the Louisville Youth Group
  • Know a country's laws and stance on LGBTQ rights before traveling internationally:
    • The Williams Institute Global Acceptance Index can be found here.
    • Astrea Foundation Global Reach for international anti-discrimination laws can be found here.
  • ​The Trevor Project is a national, toll-free, 24 hour, confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth. You can chat, text, or call at 1-866-488-7386. They also have a social media support group for youth under 25 years, called TrevorSpace.
  • Find other local and national resources on our LGBTQ page. 

Child Protective Services (CPS) Reporting 

"Reaching Out: Child abuse, how and when to report" -Cook Children's Healthcare System
**This video is based out of Texas, however, the information is very similar to Kentucky's processes.**
Make a report: CPS
What is a Mandated Reporter?
As per KRS 620, every person residing in the state of Kentucky is a mandated reporter. A mandated reporter is any person required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect. There are several different types of abuse, neglect and dependency. Definitions of each can be found here.

When should I make a report? 
Any time someone suspects abuse, neglect or dependency, they should report it. Making reports can be done anonymously online here. After doing so, a professionally trained Child Protective Services worker will decide next steps. You will not be informed about the investigation, but you might be asked for additional information.

**It is not your job to investigate suspected abuse, neglect, or dependency. 

Will this break trust with the youth and/or family that I am reporting?
As a state mandated reporter, you have an obligation to report. With this comes a heavy and important responsibility. We cannot promise that trust will not be broken. However, our staff is trained to mediate, facilitate, and guide you through any obstacle your match or family might face. Please call us anytime.

We're Here to Help:

Call your Match Support Specialist

​*Page content developed, formatted, and created by Valerie DiGangi, MA, NCC and Marianna Strasz, MSSW* ​​
​© 2022 Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana, 1519 Gardiner Lane, Suite B, Louisville, KY 40218, 502-587-0494 or 877-588-2300
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