Project SHIELD Inc.

Project SHIELD Inc. is ONE Organization with TWO Commitments ~ Prevention Education and Victim Assistance. Our mission is to educate, protect and empower our youth through comprehensive trafficking prevention education in our schools. By fostering awareness, resilience, and advocacy, we equip students with the knowledge and skills to recognize, prevent, and respond to human trafficking. Through collaboration with educators, parents/guardians and our communities, we strive to create a safe and informed environment where every young person can thrive free from exploitation.

Our 24/7 855.85DREAM Hotline, our mission is to provide immediate, compassionate, and confidential support to individuals in crisis 24/7. We are dedicated to empowering survivors of trauma, abuse and distress by offering a safe space to be heard, understood, and guided toward resources that foster healing and recovery. Our trained advocates are committed to ensuring access to help without judgment, anytime, anywhere - because no on should have to face hardship alone.

Our Valued Commitment ~ Prevention Education ... experience, dedication and qualifications matter with serving our youth and our communities when it comes to protecting our most vital asset, which is our children. Times have changed and our young people are on their screens more than ever before. Having expert knowledge in the field of social media dangers, tactics that traffickers utilize, and understanding current safeguards and resources to protect our youth is vital.

Sex trafficking is a multi-billion dollar a year industry, and only 2nd in our nation to drug trafficking. Traffickers target our youth because they are vulnerable and can be easily manipulated because they are young. Social media has increased their vulnerability as traffickers pretend to be something they are not. Sextortion can be devastating as the trafficker blackmails the child, with some young people even taking their own lives.

With two Masters Degrees in Counseling, a 14 year background as a Middle School Counselor and having expert knowledge working the front lines with human trafficking victims, Sandy has designed an evidenced based and data driven comprehensive Prevention Education Series, "Shielded by Truth ~ Protecting Hearts/Guarding Minds" for School Districts. This Series is uniquely designed to easily fit into a school, does not impact valuable teaching time, provides critical resources for parents/guardians and has engaging and powerful assemblies for the students. As this Series also comes alongside the School Counselors and assists to put protocol in place with a toolbox of incredibly valuable and easy to use resources, this foundational design also weaves in support to increase student attendance and academic success.

Our Valued Commitment ~ Victim Assistance ... our 1st line of assistance is our confidential 24/7 855.85DREAM (855.853.7326) Hotline that serves as a lifeline for victims. Our team offers immediate support, safety planning, trauma-centered emotional care, and a dedication to unlayer their situation and connect them to appropriate and critical aftercare resources and programs to empower them to find hope, safety with a new journey and a pathway to freedom.

With a heart to help those that feel lost and in despair, our team unconditionally is present to offer unwavering assistance and hope as we reshape their thinking of despair, to one of value and worth as we relentlessly dedicate our time to support their needs and connect them to the best possible after-care program that is a fit for them.

With the challenge for Victims of trafficking to find a 24/7 Hotline to assist them in their devastating time of immediate need, our team works 365 days a year to provide direct assistance with the utmost care for their unique situation. The heart of our team is to share direction and hope and to let them know their incredible value and worth. Shedding light in the darkness, one life at a time.

Knowing that at any given time, that there are 750,000 child predators online ... and they all have a key to your house via Internet ... powerful Prevention Education with expert knowledge is critical. Project SHIELD Series, "Shielded By Truth ~ Protecting Hearts/Guarding Minds" can easily make that happen and we can change the trajectory of what could occur in our young people's lives.

By equipping young people with knowledge about digital safety and the red flags, we empower them to make informed choices and recognize danger before it escalates. Appropriate protocol is put in place for any student in need. Also included in the student presentations are discussions about healthy boundaries, their value and worth, and respecting each other's uniqueness to foster a positive school climate.

Educating parents and adults brings to light the critical risk that our young people may be subjected to and the safeguards to put in place along with help if needed. Right now we are not on the winning side ... and traffickers would love it if we stayed silent. Let's not play defense anymore ... instead choose another game plan to go on the offense and tackle this issue to finally be on the winning side.

Victim Assistance ... when lives are at stake, every moment matters. With our 24/7 855.85DREAM Hotline, we know the critical importance of being present for those in need ... and having the resources available to assist is critical. Creating a turning point and eliminating the obstacles, we can set our sights upon lifting those out of darkness and into a new beginning.

As safety is at the forefront, the initial safe-stay location gives our team the ability to provide a 'game-plan' for those next steps. Creating foundational support and assisting with immediate and direct needs gives integrity to our vision with what we do as trust is vital when working with victims of trauma. Appropriate aftercare is critical and safe transport is part of that process.

With nation-wide collaborations, our team receives an average of a dozen calls per month. With victims experiencing moments of not being understood or believed, our trauma-trained Advocates consistently and tirelessly work the cases that come our way to find safe shelters and resources for every call that comes in. Every case is unique and taken with the care that each Caller deserves.

We have countlessly assisted with providing immediate safe shelter when needed as we connect with the best after-care facility that will fit their needs. Additionally, our team sets up safe transportation either through Amtrak/Metrolink lines and/or air flights. We have a heart-felt dedication to ensure that every step of their journey is taken with care and we celebrate the joy of bringing them to a safe new chapter of their life.

Working with victims of trafficking, sincere gratitude comes through in their appreciation that someone took the time to help. When our team listens to their stories with their tears of brokenness and shame, our reassurance that it wasn't their fault is the beginning of comfort and healing in their journey. Their gratitude fuels the heart of our team.

With that heartfelt response of helping those who feel 'lost' ... we in turn feel a sense of gratitude to anyone that would help support our mission as we are striving to save one life at a time. The impact of helping just 'one' life ... in turn, helps the lives that they will touch in their future. Support is not just financial ... it is a powerful endorsement of our mission and the work that we do ... and we would be beyond grateful for that.

Prevention Education ~ The precious lives of our youth can not be understated and traffickers would love it if we stayed silent. With California consistently being #1 in our nation for human trafficking, Prevention Education is vital and key to protecting our precious Youth from being targeted and victimized by a Trafficker or an online Predator. Understanding the momentum of how traffickers are able to operate in our world today as social media is readily available to our youth, we need to actively and intentionally provide Prevention Education for our youth and our communities as an on-going need and without comprehensive prevention education students remain vulnerable to exploitation.

Statistics show that human trafficking is a $150 billion industry, but despite these alarming statistics awareness and prevention education in schools remains insufficient. Many students lack the warning signs, how to protect themselves, and where to seek help if needed. Educators and school staff may not be adequately trained to identify a student who may be at risk in their population. Therefore the need for ongoing human trafficking prevention education in schools is urgent and undeniable. Without sustained, evidence-based programming, students remain at risk of exploitation. By integrating comprehensive, age-appropriate trafficking prevention we can equip young people with the knowledge and resources needed to protect themselves and their friends and contribute to the broader fight against human trafficking. Continuous education ensures students remain aware of emerging threats. Educators play a vital role in identifying at-risk students and intervening appropriately. On-going annual training ensures school personnel are well-equipped to recognize the warning signs.

Investing today ensures a safer future for tomorrow!

Victim Assistance ~ Those already caught in the darkness of trafficking feel hopeless unless they see there is a way out. With our 24/7 855.85DREAM Hotline covering nation-wide assistance, the need to be able to serve them in the best way possible is crucial. Funding to assist is critical as our team receives calls in desperate situations of safety and need. Funding assistance provides for safe transportation, hotel stays, food/clothing/hygiene provisions while our team works on safe next steps with Metrolink/Amtrak or a flight to the appropriate safe aftercare location.

In addition, our team's mission is to shed light on this darkness in our communities. We are involved with speaking engagements at symposiums and other awareness events. We also provide 1st Responder trainings to assist ER staff, firefighters, law enforcement, EMS and social workers how to identify a trafficking victim that may cross their path, understand their trauma and how it impacts their brain and reactions ... and how to take a trauma-centered approach when working with them to offer them support and help if they are ready.

Direct Outreach ~ Our team trains for direct outreach in high trafficking areas. We also provide our 24/7 Hotline charm that is attached to a bracelet to 'gift' to victims being forced to work so that they know help is available at any time if needed.

Together, we have the power to break the chains of exploitation and open the door to freedom, healing, and hope. Your support is not just a donation -- it is an investment in lives restored, futures reclaimed, and a world where every person is safe, valued, and free. Let's stand united and make freedom the story we write together.

Nation-wide throughout the United States.

The fight against trafficking starts with the awareness that it is going on. What is especially unique about Project SHIELD Inc. is our two-fold vision to not only significantly intercede to change the trajectory of this darkness and bring hope and light to those that have been directly affected, but to also equip our youth and communities with ongoing vital prevention education that brings the awareness to the forefront with the times that we are in to prevent and protect our children from child exploitation.

Education is power! Compassion for those in need is in the heart of the human spirit ... thank you for your time.