2026 PROGRAMS WE SUPPORT
Childhood does not employ its own staff in the field but supports programs throughout the United States that address CSAE and partners with these programs to evaluate impact in our efforts to protect children.
Programs addressing online safety
Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children (APSAC) - Expanding Access and Support for Victims of Online Child Sexual Abuse Through Family-Facing Tools and National Dissemination
National
The Association of Professionals Solving the Abuse of Children (APSAC) is creating a toolkit of resources designed to support professionals, parents/caregivers, and youth with culturally accessible, practical resources to respond to online sexual exploitation. These trauma-informed resources will be made available to youth, particularly when formal services are delayed or unavailable.
Colorado Children's Alliance - Improving Coordinated Care for Victims of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
Colorado
The Colorado Children’s Alliance project is a statewide initiative in Colorado to develop evidence-based, trauma-informed guidelines to strengthen coordinated care for children who are victims of online child sexual abuse. Designed for the Multi-Disciplinary Teams at each CAC, these guidelines will promote consistent, high-quality responses across Colorado’s 19 CACs.
The Exodus Road - Protecting Kids from Digital Exploitation
Philadelphia, PA
The Exodus Road’s Influenced Program is an evidence-based digital sexual exploitation prevention program in Kensington, PA designed for students and adults tackling critical issues such as sextortion, online predators, CSAM, and technology's mental health impacts. In 2026, the program is being expanded throughout Northern Philadelphia with an aim of reaching over 3,500 people.
Heat Initiative - Movement Building and Direct Action Holding Big Tech Accountable
National
Heat Initiative’s Movement Building and Direct-Action work aims to hold Big Tech accountable and disrupt the narrative that child sexual abuse is an unavoidable byproduct of the internet. This advocacy movement-building work is achieved through direct action and collaboration with partners, including survivors, bereaved parents, young people, and child safety advocates.
Mount Hope Family Center, University of Rochester - Safe and Strong: A Universal Prevention Program for Caregivers to Keep Kids Safe Online and Offline
Rochester, NY/National
Mt. Hope Family Center is expanding the reach and impact of Safe and Strong, a new online training for parents/caregivers and concerned adults designed to prevent child sexual abuse (CSA) and promote youth online safety. Our support will also assist in conducting a randomized control trial of the Safe and Strong training to ensure optimal results for further dissemination.
National Children's Advocacy Center (NCAC) - Innovative Collaboration and Deconfliction Protocol and Supporting our Impacted Youth
Huntsville, AL
The National Children’s Advocacy Center’s project involves an expanded collaboration and information sharing between agencies responding to contact child sexual abuse and those responding to online child sexual abuse and exploitation. This project hopes to reshape the best practices for CAC’s work with Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces throughout the U.S.
Operation Light Shine - INTERCEPT - Accelerating Victim Identification Through Artificial Intelligence
National
Operation Light Shine will continue to use Paradigm, a comprehensive investigative and intelligence platform specifically designed for the investigation of child sexual exploitation and trafficking. Our support in 2026 will provide three additional AI tools across five INTERCEPT Task Forces allowing law enforcement professionals to accelerate the identification and rescue of child victims.
Children's Advocacy Centers of Texas - Protecting Childhood Together: Equipping Parents to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
Texas
CACTX has a network of 70 CACs across Texas and is building a public will campaign across the State to equip parents and caregivers to prevent child sexual abuse. In 2026, our support will be used to equip pediatric healthcare providers to engage parents and caregivers in CSA prevention during routine well-child visits by providing the healthcare providers with specific prevention messaging.
Enough Abuse - Preventing Child Sexual Abuse in Schools: Year 2 Implementation of Safety S.T.A.R.S. Demonstration
Massachusetts
Year two of support will allow Enough Abuse to expand to additional school districts in MA and continue to implement the Safety S.T.A.R.S. initiative. Components of the Safety S.T.A.R.S. include screening prospective school hires using the latest tools, securing physical school spaces to reduce opportunities for sexual abuse, and how to respond to school employee boundary violations.
Institute of Human Services - Continuing Education for Attorneys—Model Standards for Youth with Problematic Sexual Behaviors
National
IHS aims to create a continuing education course to share the effectiveness of evidence-based treatment for youth with problematic sexual behaviors and ensure that attorneys and other legal professionals have access to treatment options for youth and families in their community. Current peer-reviewed research and relevant case law will be monitored and incorporated in the course.
MASOC - Comprehensive Assessment of Young People with PSB: Building the Bridge from Response to Prevention
Massachusetts/National
With previous support, MASOC has trained hundreds of clinicians in MA on the MA Child and Adolescent Assessment Protocol (M-CAPP), a comprehensive, whole-child assessment in young people with problematic sexual behavior. Our support in 2026 will significantly scale the M-CAPP training and utilization in New York City, Utah, and CACs throughout the U.S.
Stop It Now! - What's OK? - Deterring Youth from Sexual Harming
National
The WhatsOK program provides information and guidance to youth and young adults with questions about sexual thoughts, interests, and behaviors that could be concerning, harmful, and/or illegal. Information is provided anonymously to youth through a helpline as well as through a content-rich website that is continuously updated based on inquiries and research.
Zero Abuse - Expanding Child Abuse Prevention through Online Safety
Minnesota
Zero Abuse Project has developed a school-based prevention program through their Expanding Child Abuse Prevention (E-CAP) initiative throughout MN. Our support will work toward adapting and piloting E-CAP for faith-based communities, beginning with MN's Lutheran Schools, with the goal of strengthening community capacity to prevent abuse and support disclosures.
Baylor School of Medicine - Using Validated Screening Tools to Identify and Protect Children Victims of CSEA in an Urban Academic Emergency Room
Houston, TX
The Baylor College of Medicine's aim with this initiative is to implement a comprehensive screening process in the emergency room setting to identify and protect children at risk of sex trafficking so intervention and services can be provided to these victimized youth. A long-term goal is to see these validated screening tools implemented in hospitals throughout the U.S.
Bridge for Youth - Responding to Sexual Exploitation, Trafficking, Abuse in Youth Experiencing Homelessness
Minneapolis, MN
The Bridge for Youth is certified by the MN Department of Human Services as a specialized provider for sexually exploited youth. The program we support provides community outreach through a Mobile Youth Outreach Center that travels to where homeless and disadvantaged youth are to provide them with services, which include case management needs, counseling, and advocacy.
Corner House - Hennepin County Multi-Disciplinary Team for Sexually Exploited Youth
Hennepin County, MN
Corner House, along with Hennepin County's Department of Children and Family Services, is partnering to address the issue of youth who have been identified as experiencing or at direct risk for sexual exploitation, who are not receiving a coordinated, swift response to the abuse. A proven Multi-disciplinary Team process will be developed to better serve and engage with these youth.
The Link - Preventing Youth Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking through The Link’s Dignity House
Minneapolis, MN
The Link serves youth at the highest risk of sexual exploitation and youth survivors of exploitation. Our support is targeted at the Link’s Dignity House Emergency Shelter, where residents are navigating severe crises and acute trauma. Youth are provided an evidence-based program on online exploitation risks, online safety, and strategies to protect themselves online.
National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) - HEALING PATHWAYS NY FAON: Strengthening Mental Health Support to Victims of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
National/New York
NCMEC connects families to licensed social workers, counselors, and psychologists who provide pro-bono or sliding-scale services through their Family Advocacy Outreach Network (FAON). FAON's current presence in NY does not meet the overwhelming demand for victims of CSAE. Our support will assist in training providers, build stronger service coordination/referral systems in NY.