HopeUnited

06/02/2026

Topic: Child S** Trafficking
Disturbing but important information from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's (NCMEC) "2025 Impact Report." "As a direct result of the REPORT Act, NCMEC is starting to see a more realistic reflection of the volume of children being trafficked for s** online."
1. "Buyers are directly targeting children, aggressively approaching them online and offering payment for s** acts without an apparent connection to a third-party trafficker, sometimes repeatedly over time."
2. "There is increasing overlap between child s** trafficking and child s**ual abuse material (CSAM). Offenders first offer to pay a child to produce and send them CSAM as a "preview," then escalate to in-person exploitation to pay the child for s**.
3. "We [NCMEC] are seeing coordination among offenders, multiple individuals working together online to coordinate the exploitation of a child through s** trafficking."

For more information about the REPORT Act, please click this link: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/474 #:~:text=This%20act%20makes%20changes%20to,online%20s*xual%20exploitation%20of%20children.

06/01/2026

Our Community Education Partner, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), recently released their "2025 Impact Report." What our children experience is tragic!

"NCMEC witnessed a 323% increase in reports of child s*x trafficking compared to 2024."
"NCMEC analyzed more than 21 million CyberTipline reports regarding incidents of child s*xual exploitation. Behind every one of those numbers is a child, a family, a survivor . . ."

To learn more, please visit

Finding Missing Children Protecting Children from Sexual Exploitation Mental Health & Peer Support Prevention Resources A Note From NCMEC PDF & Archives National Center for Missing & Exploited Children 2025 IMPACT REPORT The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is the largest and most in...

05/14/2026

Yummy food to support the important work of Martha's Hope!
Like HopeUNITED, Martha's Hope is a community-service-oriented program of United Way of East Central Alabama. Martha's Hope works tirelessly to meet the needs of the unhoused. Our two programs do not work in isolation. There are times when the people we serve need both programs at the same time.
To get your scrumptious low country boil, please scan the QR code to order your plates. If you choose to do so, there is also an option for you to purchase a meal for residents of the shelter.
Thank you all!

05/11/2026

Last Friday evening (May 8th), HopeUNITED was privileged to join other programs from United Way of East Central Alabama at "Embrace What Matters Family Fun Night."
"Families from across the area came together to enjoy a night filled with laughter, meaningful conversations, and shared experiences that highlighted the importance of mental health and emotional well-being." (Becky Cox, Children's Policy Council)
This incredible event was presented by Mental Health Service Coordinators from Calhoun County, Cleburne County, Jacksonville City, and Oxford City Schools. Collaboration at its finest from our area schools!

05/08/2026

We’re growing and we’re hiring! 💙

United Way of East Central Alabama is excited to announce several new opportunities to join our team and make a meaningful impact in the lives of youth and families across our community.

We are currently hiring for the following positions:

✨ The RISE Initiative Empowerment Coach (Social Worker)
✨ The RISE InitiativeCommunity Service Coordinator
✨ WorkFORCE Connections Empowerment Coach (Social Worker)

These positions will play an important role in supporting youth through leadership development, mentoring, case management, workforce readiness, community engagement, and wraparound support services.

If you are passionate about empowering others, building strong relationships, and helping individuals move toward brighter futures, we would love to hear from you.

📩 To apply, please visit www.uweca.org/jobs

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post or tagging someone who would be a great fit for one of these roles! 👏

05/07/2026

Here in Alabama.
Please remember this is happening to our young people as well. This gives us all good reason to limit photographs on our Facebook and other accounts.

Cybersecurity experts say the case reflects a growing concern tied to artificial intelligence and increasingly accessible online image-manipulation tools.

05/07/2026

Dear parents, grandparents, and caregivers:
"Kids today face a very different set of challenges. There’s a whole new landscape where a child’s relationship with technology and normal se***l development overlap, with a whole new set of experiences online. And they need your help to navigate it safely." (Thorn)

HopeUNITED believes you will find Thorn for Parents to be a great resource for you.

Thorn for Parents is a collection of useful resources, thoughtful tips, and expert information designed to help parents talk to their kids about online safety.

04/29/2026

Last night, HopeUNITED hosted family time for community families. We played Uno and Jenga. We colored pinwheels. We built calming jars. We had an impromptu dance party. We ate supper together. We laughed - we laughed a lot! But, most importantly, families just enjoyed spending time together. Thank you all for coming. We had a great time celebrating you!

Creating positive childhood experiences helps promote lifelong well-being for children. Positive childhoods begin with us!

04/27/2026

TONIGHT (April 28)!
We are so excited to welcome you and your family to our drop-in event from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. today at the United Way office (1505 Wilmer Avenue, Anniston, AL). We know evenings are hectic, so we will have supper for you all! Come and have a fun time with your family.

💛💙❤️ We’re excited to invite families to our Hope United Family Drop-In on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at United Way of East Central Alabama!

🙌 This special evening will be filled with games, dinner, prizes, and safety packets as we come together to support families and promote positive childhood experiences in our community.

Join us for a fun and meaningful night as we celebrate the message that positive childhoods start with us. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing an evening of connection, support, and resources for local families!

04/21/2026

What an inspiring and wonderful night of connections! Thank you, Cleburne Baptist Active Women, for the invitation to speak about what is often hidden in our communities: exploitation and human trafficking. We admire the care you have for each other and members of your communities! It was a great evening.