Christy's Cause

Christy's Cause Christy’s Cause works to eradicate child s*x trafficking and exploitation through education, public awareness, restoration projects, and justice initiatives.

S*x trafficking is a growing problem and a serious violation of human rights. Our own community was significantly impacted this year when 15 traffickers where arrested in Collier Co. It is even more horrific when we hear that children are being exploited by the s*x industry. Unfortunately, Florida has one of the highest incidences of trafficking in the country ranking third in the nation under Cal

ifornia and Texas. In the fall of 2014, Christy Ivie was in Cambodia working with over 1,000 children who live in extreme poverty. During this trip, she was overwhelmed with the mandate to become an advocate for at-risk children being s*xually exploited around the world, including those in our own community. Out of that mandate, she launched Christy’s Cause, Inc.

02/03/2023

"False reporting for any type of abuse is below 8%. If a child comes forward and says that they are being abused, we need to believe them." - Kanathy Haney

Trauma can present itself in a lot of different ways. When you have a traumatic experience, your brain will fragment the memories into different parts of your brain.

We spoke with Dr. Kanathy Haney, a health sciences professor and chair of the Human Trafficking Coalition at Palm Beach State College, about what trauma can look like in a child.

For additional free resources, visit our Real Talk Web Series page: https://bit.ly/3PM1mLZ

01/13/2023

"One of the worst things a parent can do is to give their child an electronic device without any restrictions." -Sgt. Wade Williams

We understand securing your child’s device takes time, but doing so will help keep them safe!

You might have experienced a scary situation with your children accessing unwanted content or engaging in dangerous conversations via an electronic device that was a Christmas gift.

Don’t forget to secure Fire Tablets, gaming devices, and monitor Apps. For more information on how to navigate iPhone and android devices, click the link: https://bit.ly/3PM1mLZ

12/16/2022

Staying safe over the holidays is a concern for every family and digital safeguarding plays an important role in protecting our children.

Gifts such as tablets, smartphones, and gaming consoles have online access, so it is important to think ahead about what safety features are available, create a plan, and implement that plan in advance.

Check out these tips and have a safe and happy holiday season!

- Research and implement parental control software
- Read “How to Talk to Your Kids About S*x Trafficking”:
http://bit.ly/3j4lI8d
- Watch “Real Talk Android and iPhone Security” videos:
https://bit.ly/3PM1mLZ
- Establish and implement a plan with your family

10/28/2022

Natural disasters can be incredibly stressful for children and teens. Oftentimes, children will experience trauma at higher rates than most adults. A few common responses in children may be trouble with sleeping, separation anxiety, or aggression.

S*xual predators look for vulnerabilities and can take advantage of the aftermath of a natural disaster to prey on children. As we identify trauma, work to reduce it, and build resilience in our children, we are helping protect them from predators.

If you have noticed any of these signs in your child, check out the free resources on our website to help you learn how to help children cope: https://bit.ly/3EOsMP3

10/17/2022

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by the tragedies of Hurricane Ian. Southwest Florida is strong and resilient. We know that the Southwest Florida community will rebuild and bounce back better than ever.

According to the Polaris Project, "While every human trafficking victim is different, a common thread they share is the presence of a vulnerability that traffickers exploit. Those types of vulnerabilities are rampant in the aftermath of natural disasters. Homelessness is one of the top risk factors reported by survivors to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, and we often learn that survivors were recruited by traffickers near shelters or centers helping people in need.”

With online s*xual exploitation on the rise, it's critical we are mindful of vulnerabilities our children might be experiencing that could place them at more risk of exploitation, especially after a natural disaster.

Christy's Cause has added a free resource page to our website that offers ways to help your children cope after a natural disaster. Take advantage of these resources to help you reduce the vulnerabilities your family may be experiencing.

For more information, click the link:
https://bit.ly/3EOsMP3

09/26/2022

Hear from several professionals who work directly with survivors and victims of human trafficking and s*xual exploitation in our web series: Real Talk.

Christy's Cause Real Talk video series provides additional free resources and education on a variety of trauma focused topics.

To watch these videos, click the link below: https://christyscause.com/real-talk

09/09/2022

"As a teacher, it can be difficult to identify when a child is being abused."

Every 9 minutes, child protective services substantiate or uncover concrete evidence of a claim of child s*xual abuse. *United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau.

Written with educators in mind, One Story, Many Voices provides illuminating insight to any reader into childhood trauma because of s*xual exploitation, while giving them tools to create safe spaces for children experiencing traumatic stress.

If you are a school-based professional, we encourage you to read One Story, Many Voices. To order your copy, click the link below:
https://bit.ly/3veoT1g

08/18/2022

"We have to understand as prosecutors that victims may remember things in fragments. It may take a long time for them to visualize the events that have occurred to them."

On this episode of Real Talk, we sat down with Francine Donnorummo, Special Victims Unit Chief, Office of the State Attorney, 20th Judicial Circuit, to discuss how important a Trauma-Informed Approach is throughout the legal process.

For access to more Real Talk videos, click the link below:
https://bit.ly/3PM1mLZ

We are very honored and excited to announce that One Story, Many Voices was featured in Estero Life Magazine. "Christy I...
08/05/2022

We are very honored and excited to announce that One Story, Many Voices was featured in Estero Life Magazine.

"Christy Ivie and Laurie Sammons share a passion for helping victims of s*x trafficking and exploitation. Working in this area, they identified a huge need for awareness and educational materials. Four years ago, they started crafting a book, “One Story, Many Voices.”

While the book’s second half is full of resources, the first half shares a collection of stories from 10 individuals who survived s*xual exploitation." -Estero Life Magazine

To read the full article, click the link: https://esterolifemagazine.com/storytelling-for-good/

And to receive your own copy of One Story, Many Voices: https://bit.ly/3veoT1g

07/29/2022

Health care professionals are often the first professionals to have contact with trafficked adults and children.

Jennifer Wolff, BSN, RN & WeCare Teacher shares that after completing the class, nurses feel equipped to recognize the signs in human trafficking victims.

WeCare is a training piece for health professionals to identify, assess, and respond to human trafficking in the health care setting.

For more information on WeCare or to request a WeCare training, Click the link: https://bit.ly/3zIDIuM

07/22/2022

On this episode of Real Talk, we were joined by Sgt Wade Williams with the Collier County Sheriff's Office.

Sgt Williams is responsible for managing Collier County's Internet Crimes Against Children Federal Task Force, the Missing Persons Unit, the Internet Exploitation Unit, and the Human Trafficking Unit. His dedication and hard work have resulted in the arrest and prosecution of numerous s*x predators.

Sgt. Williams says, "Traffickers will target girls with vulnerabilities because they are most susceptible and easier to target."

To view more of our Real Talk Series, click the link: https://bit.ly/3PM1mLZ

07/08/2022

Parents often ask, “How do I keep my children safe from predators?"

Here are a few tips that we share with parents:

-Foster open dialog with your children. It is never too early to start open and authentic conversations with your family.

-Educate yourself and your child in age-appropriate ways about predatorial behavior.

-Never underestimate the seasons of vulnerability that your children may experience.

For more free resources to empower you and your family, check out our website: https://bit.ly/3bQA20m

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