PWPORG, a Platinum Award Winner for Excellence in Public Safety & Community Enrichment in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, has launched Edition Five of the Parents With Preparedness digital magazine.

Edition Five continues to inspire us as to what can be accomplished by a group of volunteers who share a common vision, bottomless enthusiasm, and endless patience. PWP Advisors, Board of Governance, and Creative Asset Manager, Adam King literally make the magic happen.

Five editions, over forty-five featured articles, four activity books, and over a dozen mini-resource guides in a year, with authors who bring authenticity to their stories, which is learned through living them, and as we see, living through them.

“As we bid 2021 a farewell, having learned more than we ever envisioned about global pandemics, quarantines, and catastrophic weather disasters, we are also encouraged by our resiliency, the inestimable strength of the human spirit, and the power of HOPE,” explains Kathleen Kiernan, EdD, President of NEC National Security Systems (NEC NSS) and Founder of PWPORG.org.

TIMELY AND IMPORTANT EDITION FIVE ARTICLES INCLUDE:

 

EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT THE CRISIS OF ONLINE CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

In 2014 then-UK Prime Minister David Cameron said, “the online exploitation of children is happening on an almost industrial scale” and called it “a major international crime of our age.”

In 2019 the New York Times wrote, “Twenty years ago, online images were a problem; 10 years ago, an epidemic. Now, the crisis is at a breaking point.” That is my message to you today. It is difficult to say how large the problem is because, overwhelmingly, these crimes are not reported.

What we do know is the problem is large and global:

• 21.7 million referrals of child sexual abuse material to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) during 2020;

• 94% of the child sexual abuse material found online by the UK-based Internet Watch Foundation contained images of children 13 or younger; 39% of children 10 or younger; • INHOPE, the network of internet hotlines, reported that 89% of its child sexual abuse material reports involved children between ages 3 and 13.

• For the calendar year 2018 INTERPOL estimated that 1.8 million men with sexual interest in children were newly online.

• UNICEF estimates that 1 in 3 internet users is a child.

The problem is exploding together with the challenge to address it. Prior to the internet, those with a sexual interest in children felt isolated, aberrant, and alone.

However, today they are part of a global community that shares images, fantasies, techniques, and even real children.

And they do it with virtual anonymity.

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 5

By Ernie Allen. Appointed by former Prime Minister David Cameron he chairs the WeProtect Global Alliance, a global initiative to combat online child sexual abuse and exploitation, Mr. Allen serves on several boards including the Vatican’s Child Dignity Alliance, and is a trusted advisor to governments, law enforcement, technology companies, and others on digital economy, public-private partnerships and child protection. 

Previously he was Founding Chairman and former President & CEO of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children and the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children.

 

OVERCOMING ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES

Looking back on how and why I began my career, I can’t help but be reminded of my childhood adversities. Through the years, I’ve delved into the research of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the negative lifelong consequences. This includes the brain’s response to trauma and adversity.

It amazes me how pliable our brains are, especially our ability to create new pathways. Of course, it’s always easier to continue down the same pathways we’ve created, whether positive or negative. The neurological pathways developed within a child’s brain depend on the child’s protective factors.

In 1995, the Center for Disease Control and Kaiser Permanente conducted an extensive research study that changed how we see child adversities. This study looked into three different categories: abuse, household challenges, and neglect.

Each one of those categories had subcategories that addressed ten adversities: child abuse (sexual, physical, and emotional), parental incarceration, substance abuse in the home, domestic violence, mental health, divorce/separation, and neglect (physical and emotional).

Each adversity was scored with a single point in the study if someone had experienced it during childhood. The higher the ACE score, the higher the probability of life-long negative consequences such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and death by suicide.

Many adults are still unfamiliar with the ACE study. However, once surveyed, 6 in 10 adults report experiencing at least one ACE, and nearly 1 in 6 reports experiencing four or more different types of ACEs.

I have experienced 7 of the 10. Statistically speaking, my outcome as an adult was grim. If I had allowed research to predict my future, I would have given up all hope long ago.

So what stopped me? Why have I not thrown in the towel?

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 7

Deaneé Johnson, Ph.D., is a key player in advancing the field of responding to trauma and child adversities, specifically responding to child victims of sexual exploitation and poly victimization.

She has over 20 years of experience working directly with victims and survivors, partnering with multidisciplinary professionals and teams who meet the needs of child victims and their families. 

Dr. Johnson led the working group focused on the victim services component of the 2016 National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction out of the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Deputy Attorney General. 

She serves on the National Steering Committee for the Vision 21 Linking Systems of Care for Children and Youth, Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) demonstration project. She is the Chairwoman for Preparedness Without Paranoia Advisory Board (www.pwporg.org). 

 

SEXTORTION: AN EDUCATION- AL OVERVIEW

As information technology becomes increasingly present in the professional and personal lives of society, the frequency of sexting and sextortion continues to rise. As digital tools are incorporated into learning, children have more access to electronic devices now than ever before.

Education is, therefore, a vital mechanism to spread awareness and instill prevention skills in children. This article aims to provide relief through education for parents, caregivers, general users of technology, and victims of sextortion.

Sexting can be defined broadly as “the sharing of personal, suggestive text messages, or nude or nearly nude photographs or videos through electronic devices” (Ouytsel et al., 2020, p. 36).

Research estimates sexting behaviors have increased over the past decade, approximately 15 to 27 percent of youths are sending or receiving sexting messages, and increases for high school-aged and adult participants, at 50 percent or higher.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Sextortion is a serious crime that occurs when someone threatens to distribute your private and sensitive material if you do not provide them images of sexual nature, sexual acts, or money.

The Child Rescue Coalition estimates 72.5 million unique IP addresses worldwide have shared or downloaded sexually explicit images, 90 percent of children are abused by someone known to their family, children are most vulnerable between the ages of 7 to 13, predators victimize 50-100 individuals in their lifetime, and young girls are disproportionality affected to boys.

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 9

Christian A. Nanry is a veteran and serves his community as a law enforcement official.

He holds an undergraduate degree from Empire State College, a master’s degree from Seton Hall University, and a Doctorate of Philosophy from Texas State University.

Contributor and Co-author: Heather C. Fisher is the senior advisor for human rights crimes at Thompson Reuters Special Services. In this capacity, Fischer advises on the company strategy to protect human rights and combat crimes of exploitation, including human trafficking.

 

THE SCIENCE OF HOPE AS A FRAMEWORK FOR PARENTING IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

Hope is a mindset not an emotion. Hope is a psychological resource based upon our ability to set, pursue, and achieve desired goals.

This positive expectation of the future is grounded in three simple elements: Goals, Pathways, and Willpower. Goals (short- and long-term) are the cornerstone of hope.

When we are in distress, we should focus on short-term goals. Pathways represent the strategies or plans we identify to pursue our goals. Neither willpower nor pathways alone is sufficient for hope.

For example, a child may have a strong desire to get good grades but struggles to complete homework assignments. Alternatively, the child may understand how to do the assignments but seem unmotivated to do the work. Both scenarios will result in failure or underachievement.

The hopeful child is able to identify multiple pathways to the goal and can effectively identify alternative pathways or solutions to potential barriers.

Willpower refers to the mental energy, such as attention and intention, on our pathway pursuits. The hopeful child has the willpower to self-regulate their thoughts, behaviors, and emotions when selecting and pursuing their desired goals.

With over 2,000 published research studies, hope has emerged as one of the most important predictors of well-being for children, adults, and families.

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 11

Chan M. Hellman, Ph.D. is a professor of social work at the University of Oklahoma and Director of The Hope Research Center.

He has written more than 150 scientific publications and has presented at numerous national and international conferences worldwide, and presented his work TEDx in May of 2021.

Chan’s research is focused on hope as a psychological strength helping children and adults overcome trauma and adversity. This research informed the development of the “Hope Centered and Trauma Informed” training program.

Chan is the co-author of the award-winning book “Hope Rising: How the Science of Hope Can Change Your Life” with his co-author Casey Gwinn published by Morgan James. As a result of this work, Chan was one of five invited workshops for Jane Goodall’s Activating Hope Summit (November, 2021).

Stacy Phillips, DSW, MSW is a Victim Justice Program Specialist with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) within the U.S. Department of Justice. Dr. Phillips works with on the Discretionary Team and Human Trafficking Team where she assists the office in developing, implementing, and monitoring victimization-related efforts and programs.

Dr. Phillips has more than 20 years of experience in the victim services field and is a child and youth expert within OVC focusing on trauma, poly victimization, and brain science.

She represents OVC on the DOJ Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Working Group and the Federal Inter-Agency Work Group on Child Abuse and Neglect.

She also addresses crime victims’ rights enforcement and legal wraparound networks, law enforcement-based direct services, post-conviction initiatives, and has spearheaded demonstration initiatives on poly victimization, reducing child fatalities and recurring serious child injuries, and leads the opioid/ drug addiction crisis initiative. 

She is a social innovation strategist working on developing and deploying effective solutions to challenging and systemic issues. Before joining OVC, Ms. Phillips spent 15 years working in child welfare.

Dr. Phillips holds a Doctorate of Social Work (DSW) from the University of Southern California with a focus on smart decarceration specifically with youth; an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Southern Connecticut State University; and an M.S.W. from The Catholic University of America.

 

FOSTERING RESILIENCY IN OUR YOUTH: CALIFORNIA’S INCLUSION OF ANTI-TRAFFICKING CURRICULUM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AWARENESS

Preparing our youth for academic rigor and societal challenges is the driving force of our academic institutions.

As we learn more about human trafficking and how traffickers groom young boys and girls in order to exploit them, we must provide our educators with the tools to help identify suspicious behavior and position our children to be resilient against coercive methods.

The State of California, often seen as a leader in counter-trafficking policies, has begun applying a novel approach – to fostering greater public awareness and attempting to instill resiliency in their youth by mandating anti-human trafficking in junior and senior high school curricula.

The term “human trafficking” can be jarring and too often is a loaded phrase used for political purposes. This is done because it invokes a visceral reaction. Unfortunately, many of the connotations the public conjure are cultural stereotypes, gender or ethnic bias, or Hollywood-based hysteria and hyperbole.

Approaching this issue from a fact-based lens, assessing and addressing root causes, and then building a resiliency response from a practical application perspective can help put our children in a position to repel inappropriate and harmful interactions.

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 13

Benjamin Thomas Greer, J.D., M.A.. is an Emergency Management Instructor for the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES); a Research Associate for the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Applied Research in Human Trafficking (CCARHT); and holds a Master’s Degree from Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Program (NPS-CHDS), which was recognized in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program for ‘Excellence in Homeland Security’. 

 

UASEM 2021 (The Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management (UASEM))

A zombie apocalypse taking over the South Street Seaport, a four-alarm fire in the Bronx with people trapped, a water main break with large-scale flooding on the A/C subway lines, Manhattan hospitals overrun with patients from a nationwide Salmonella outbreak, these are some of the topics you could hear walking the halls of The Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management (UASEM) on any given day.

UASEM is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) school that prepares students for both college and career in the field of Emergency Management and Emergency Response.

The Beginning The Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management (UASEM) puts students in the shoes of Emergency Managers and first responders to identify high-stakes problems and create novel solutions.

In spring of 2013 Rodolfo Elizondo (Principal) and Robert Magliaro (Assistant Principal) with a small, but dedicated staff, began building the foundations of the first high school for Emergency Management in the United States.

Much like the Emergency Management industry itself, UASEM experienced some growing pains in our early days. Our small staff would meet in different restaurants and coffee houses around New York City, as the school did not yet have a physical space.

Our founding staff would work all day at their other schools, then meet after work to review potential staff hires and build a curriculum for each subject.

One main priority was to bring emergency management to life in all subjects, from art to math. We wanted students to feel and experience the mission of our school across all content areas.

The focus then became, what does emergency management look like for a high school student living in NYC?

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 15

Just over 20 years ago, 23-year-old EMT from Queens Salvatore Puglisi responded to a call for help in lower Manhattan that would change his life.

Arriving on scene at the moment of the second plane’s impact into the World Trade Center, Sal Puglisi began an immediate triage of patients. The days that followed would eventually change the trajectory of his personal and professional life.

Now Sal reports to lower Manhattan every day for a different calling — this time at the Urban Assembly School for Emergency Management (UASEM) as Mr. Puglisi, Career and Technical Education (CTE) teacher for Emergency Management and Medicine. 

The work at UASEM is a small example of UA’s CTE dreams come to life. Students discover passions, explore them with expert instructors, learn through internships in the field, and build the credentials that become the stepping stones to social and economic mobility

(Hear directly from Sal Puglisi, a teacher with the Urban Assembly School of Emergency Management, as he talks about the mission of the school and shares the impact of teaching emergency management in fun, engaging ways. Courtesy of the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Naval Postgraduate School and YouTube.)

 

PUBLIC SERVICE: A FAMILY TRADITION

If acquiring financial wealth is your goal, then a career in public service is probably not right for you; after all, there are no stock options in government.

There are several reasons why an individual would choose a career in public service, but the overriding motivation is usually to have a sense of purpose and make a difference in the world.

In a recent article published by Columbia Southern University, the top inspirations for considering a career in public service include a desire to save lives, improve communities, influence social change, and achieve personal fulfillment.

In today’s politically charged environment, cynicism about government is the norm. A 2015 Pew Research Center poll found a meager 22% of citizens believe the majority of elected officials place the country’s interests ahead of their own.

Despite partisan differences and general mistrust, a majority of the public surveyed have a favorable opinion of the role of government in areas such as keeping the country safe from terrorism, responding to natural disasters, ensuring safe food and medicine, and managing immigration.

Although a majority of those surveyed believe our nation’s difficulties lack simple solutions, they also believe ordinary Americans can make a contribution by choosing a career in public service.

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 18

Terri March has been the Court Administrator for the North Las Vegas Justice Court since 2004, and is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, with a Bachelor’s of Science in Accounting, a Master’s of Business Administration, and a Master’s of Public Administration.

Terri left the hotel/casino industry after 17 years to pursue a career in public service, ultimately entering court administration. Advancing her education through the National Center for State Courts, she completed the Court Management Program, Court Executive Development Program, and became a Fellow of the Institute for Court Management in 2009.

She graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security Masters’ program in March 2018. Her thesis, “Weapons of Mass Distraction: Strategies for Countering the Paper Terrorism of Sovereign Citizens,” was developed into a distance learning webinar for the Nevada Supreme Court, and will be presented to a national audience with the American Judges’ Association in 2022.

Terri’s son, LTJG Conor Safbom, USN, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2019 with a degree in Aerospace Engineering.

During his First Class (senior) year, he was selected as a Shoemaker Scholar, an academic scholarship that afforded him the opportunity to pursue an M.S. in Astronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School.

He conducted research with Dr. Marcello Romano in the Spacecraft Robotics Laboratory and wrote a thesis entitled “Design, Testing, and Analysis of Self-Toss Hopping Maneuvers of Astrobee at NPS and NASA Ames Research Center.”

Following his graduation from NPS, he moved to Pensacola, Florida, to begin Naval Aviation training. He completed primary flight school in August of 2021 before selecting the E-2/C-2 pipeline. He will continue his flight training in Corpus Christi and Kingsville, Texas, before ultimately reporting to Norfolk, Virginia, to learn to fly his ultimate platform.

 

A POWERFUL MINDSET: INSPIRE – MOTIVATE – RISE

In the past two years, the world has been faced with a plethora of uncertainty and challenges. Parents, teachers, and children have all been tested.

In today’s climate, I have seen a lot of uncertainty and self-doubt while coaching parents and teens. Some parents and teens are thriving, but others are just merely surviving.

With so much negativity and uncertainty in the world, children lack motivation, and parents doubt themselves at work and home. Breaking through these mindset challenges doesn’t have to be complicated.

By the end of this article, you will walk away with an easy process so that you can begin to transform your mindset and your families forever.

I have used this method with my own challenges, and I’ve also implemented it with parents, teachers, and athletes who want to thrive and create a balanced and fulfilling life.

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 20

Rahz Slaughter is a performance and health coach with more than 21 years of experience. Born and raised on Long Island, NY, he currently lives in South Florida with his wife, Michele, and 17-year old stepson, Nicholas.

Rahz’s passion for helping teens develop a powerful mindset resulted from overcoming many life challenges from adolescence to adulthood.

Today Rahz travels the country speaking at schools and conferences about leadership, confidence, and self-awareness. Rahz is the co-author of Student Success Secrets and creator of the S3 Accelerator Life and Success Coaching Program for teens.

 

EMOJIS – WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN?

Growing up with smartphones and tablets is something that makes current teens unique compared to the previous generations.

With the rapid development of social media platforms and numerous forms of direct messaging, teens are constantly communicating with one another and developing their social media presence.

Emojis, slang, and acronyms have all been intertwined with how we speak to each other and is done so seamlessly that we read and interpret as normal speech.

For those who did not grow up using these emojis, acronyms, and other text lingo, they can seem like a foreign language difficult to translate.

Being able to translate these is the key to understanding direct messages and social media messages, so here is my introduction to breaking down some text language that parents of teenagers should look out for to ensure their teens are being safe online.

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 22

Amber Robell (at right), is a current student at Oregon State University studying BioHealth Sciences with the pre-med option.

She participates in multiple activities on campus including research. In her free time, she enjoys attending group fitness classes and going to coffee shops with her friends.

Marrisa Savron (not pictured) is a freshman high school student in Brunswick, Ohio. She enjoys softball, volleyball and spending time with friends.

 

ONE SCHOOL’S JOURNEY: BUILDING HOPE ONE STEP AT A TIME

Hope is more than a wish. “Hope is the belief that your future can be brighter and better than your past and that you actually have a role to play in making it better” (Gwinn & Hellman, 2019, p. 8).

In their research, Casey Gwinn and Dr. Chan Hellman (2019) have seen a link between hope-driven individuals and improvements in grades, social and emotional learning, attendance, and more.

Further, when children and adults begin to experience meeting a goal, it raises their level of hope.

It is important that at the school and home level, we create opportunities for children to generate self-goals and meet them; this will increase children’s ability to thrive in all settings.

In this article, I’d like to share with you how I am building hope with the staff and students for which I am blessed to serve as proud principal of Lake Ridge Elementary School. I will also share some ideas I have for parents as they work to build hope in their child/ren.

Continue reading… PWPORG Edition 5, on Page 24

Sarah Harrington is the blessed mother of two children and wife of a retired Navy Officer. She is in her third year as the proud principal of Lake Ridge Elementary School in Woodbridge, Virginia.

Prior to administration, she worked as an English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Specialist, ESOL teacher, fourth grade, second grade, and Kindergarten teacher.

Sarah has presented at state and nationwide conferences and holds a Masters in Educational Leadership from George Mason University, and a Masters in Education, Reading from California State University, Long Beach.

Her passions include literacy, English Language Learners, hope science, and growth mindset.

 

Be a Superhero, Make a Donation and Make a Difference

PWPORG is accepting charitable, donations, contributions and corporate/agency sponsorships to provide Safety and Emergency Preparedness Training to children’s groups in your community.

Please consider taking action to provide educational resources to kids, their families, and their communities today.

Every donation will make a difference and all donations go towards developing new children’s books, parental resources, and educational content.

Become an author of change that can forever enhance the life of a child! Visit pwporg.org/contribute

Are you a parent, caregiver, first responder, or educator who would like to contribute your experience, strength, hope and expertise in an upcoming edition of Parents With Preparedness magazine?

If so, also visit pwporg.org/contribute and sign up to be an author of change!

PWPORG Honored in 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program

American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Sixth Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.

PWPORG

• Excellence in Public Safety & Community Enrichment

  • • PWPORG.org Preparedness Education

• PWPORG (Preparedness Without Paranoia) is a 501(c)(3) built by law enforcement and security industry practitioners and educators to provide educational resources to kids, families, and communities on safety and emergency preparedness.

• PWPORG is proactively taking action to introduce the children and families in our communities, to skills and educational resources on safety and emergency preparedness, that when learned and practiced, will last for a lifetime.

• Guided by Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, a 29-year veteran of Federal Law Enforcement and President of NEC National Security Systems, the nonprofit PWPORG was created to educate, engage and empower families and kids on issues of preparedness and resiliency to create a safer world, free of active threats and human traffickers.

(Learn about how YOU can Make a Difference in the lives of our Nation’s Children and Families. Be a Superhero, Make a Donation and Make a Difference by helping to support Preparedness Without Paranoia and Parents with Preparedness Magazine. Courtesy of Kiernan Group Holdings and YouTube.)

 

AST puts forward the Largest and Most Qualified Circulation in Government with Over 75,000 readers on the Federal, State and Local levels.

AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.

‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’

AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.

Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.

These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local level as well as from private firms allied to the government.

AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.

AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.

Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.

(See just a few highlights of American Security Today’s 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon at ISC East. Courtesy of My Pristine Images and Vimeo.)

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Learn More…

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