Crime Stoppers of Houston NEEDS Program

05/30/2026

💜 No parent should navigate the special needs journey alone.

At our April 2026 NEEDS Lunch & Learn, Elizabeth Elder, Founder and Executive Director of Steel Magnolia Moms and a member of the Crime Stoppers of Houston NEEDS Advisory Board, shared resources for families raising neurodivergent children and adults.

Steel Magnolia Moms provides community, support, wellness resources, and connections to families who understand the journey.

Her presentation offered valuable information for counselors, educators, advocates, and parents seeking ways to help families thrive.

We are grateful for Elizabeth's leadership and the work Steel Magnolia Moms does to support mothers raising children with disabilities and special needs.

💜 Together, we are building a stronger community.

05/29/2026

🚨 Would your child know when they’re being targeted online?

Many parents are shocked to learn how quickly predators, scammers, and bad actors can reach children through gaming platforms, social media, and messaging apps.

At our April 2026 NEEDS Lunch & Learn, Crime Stoppers of Houston CEO and Cyber Safety expert Rania Mankarious shared critical cyber safety information every parent should know.

This presentation is especially valuable for families of autistic and special-needs children, but the lessons apply to all children.

05/29/2026

05/26/2026

🚨 A CRISIS FEW ARE TALKING ABOUT 🚨

Neurodivergent and disabled youth are disproportionately targeted by traffickers and predators.

🔹 82% of commercially s*xually exploited youth had a neurodevelopmental, behavioral, neurological, or mental health disorder.

🔹 Girls with cognitive disabilities were nearly 5x more likely to experience s*x trafficking victimization.

🔹 Girls with severe physical disabilities had nearly 6x higher odds of trafficking victimization.

🔹 Nearly 90% of autistic women surveyed reported experiencing s*xual violence during their lifetime.

Experts say traffickers often target neurodivergent individuals due to social isolation, communication differences, difficulty recognizing grooming, and fear of not being believed.

This is a major public safety, education, and awareness issue.

We must do better. Awareness and training save lives.

05/01/2026

With much pride we celebrate NEEDS Advisory Board member Cpl. Wil Moran for receiving the Johnny Klevenhagen Award yesterday at Houston's Heroes Awards Luncheon hosted by Crime Stoppers of Houston.

Wil’s tireless advocacy through the Crime Stoppers of Houston NEEDS Program continues to strengthen safety, awareness, and support for the neurodivergent community across our region. This recognition is a powerful reflection of his leadership, service, and heart for families who benefit from this work every day. Grateful to celebrate such a meaningful and incredible honor. Congratulations to all recipients for their dedication to making the community great!

04/30/2026

We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of a Cy-Fair ISD student with autism. Our prayers are with his family, loved ones, classmates, and the entire community.

This devastating tragedy is a reminder of why proper training, de-escalation, compassion, and accountability are so critical when working with neurodiverse individuals.

Through the Crime Stoppers of Houston NEEDS Program, we remain committed to education, awareness, and safety for all neurodiverse individuals and their families.

💙

https://www.fox26houston.com/news/cy-fair-isd-student-dies-after-incident-involving-behavioral-specialist-carlton-center?taid=69f3d59816d5440001699807&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=trueanthem&utm_source=twitter #

A behavioral specialist is facing charges after a student died during an incident at Carlton Center last week, court documents stated.

04/28/2026

Thanks again to all of our partners, schools, law enforcement, etc. who came to “Lunch & Learn” with Crime Stoppers of Houston NEEDS Program. We truly appreciate all of you helping to keep our most vulnerable citizens safe in our community.

04/24/2026

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