Gasp Guardians Advocating Child Safety And Protection

SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 2006, GASP HAS ADVOCATED ON BEHALF OF CHILD SAFETY AND DEVELOPED HIGH QUALITY PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO EDUCATE ADULTS AND CHILDREN, SPEAK UP FOR OUR CHILDREN, EDUCATE THEM, EMPOWER THEM AND GIVE THEM TOOLS TO PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, SEXUAL OFFENSES, ABUSE AND ABDUCTION OF CHILDREN. GASP CONTINUES TO EVOLVE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY BY PARTICIPATING IN CHILD SAFETY EVENTS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS. WE OFTEN FIND THAT THERE IS A LACK OF AWARENESS OF THESE ISSUES, EVEN AS THESE INCIDENTS CONTINUE TO BE A PART OF EVERYDAY NEWS. THERE IS EVEN LESS AWARENESS OF THE ALARMING RATES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN THE STATE OF OHIO, WHICH HAS RANKED AS HIGH AS FIFTH IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE MOST INSTANCES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING. EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, FOR EVERY ATTEMPTED ABDUCTION, OR INSTANCE OF ABUSE, EXPLOITATION OR BULLYING IN THE NEWS, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO GET AWAY WITH THEIR OFFENSES. WE ATTENDED 19 SAFETY TOWNS AND 66 COMMUNITY EVENTS. AT AL

FINGERPRINTING/CHILD ID EVENTS AND SAFETY TOWNS: WE PROVIDE A "TAKE HOME" ID KIT THAT INCLUDES A PLACE FOR ALL PERTINENT INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHILD, A PLACE FOR A PHOTO, FINGERPRINTING MATERIAL, A PLACE FOR DENTAL RECORDS, AND MORE. THESE KITS ARE DISTRIBUTED AT MOST OF THE EVENTS THAT GASP ATTENDED. AT OUR 19 SAFETY TOWN EVENTS WE USED OUR COMPUTERS AND FLASH DRIVES TO RECORD THE CHILDREN. THE FLASH DRIVES CONTAINED ALL THE PERTINENT INFORMATION, A FRONT PHOTO, A PHOTO OF THEIR EAR, DIGITAL FINGERPRINTS, AND A SHORT VIDEO OF THE CHILD. WE DISTRIBUTED 1,140 FLASH DRIVES AT THE SAFETY TOWN EVENTS. WE PARTICIPATED IN 66 EVENTS WHERE OVER 2000 "TAKE HOME" KITS WERE DISTRIBUTED. WE CONTINUE TO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE SUMMIT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE , THE SUMMIT COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, AND MANY LOCAL POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS THROUGHOUT SUMMIT AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES.

IN THE PAST WE HAVE ATTENDED THE TRIALS AND SENTENCINGS OF SEX OFFENDERS TO REINFORCE OUR SUPPORT TO VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND TO SEND A MESSAGE TO ALL THAT SOMEONE IS WATCHING AND MAKING SURE THE PUNISHMENT FITS THE CRIMES FOR THE SEXUAL OFFENDERS, BUT DUE TO COVID, WE HAVE NOT ATTENDED COURT IN 2022. WE CONTINUE TO HAVE AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUMMIT COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE. WE ALSO HAVE AN OPEN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE SUMMIT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND WE WILL WORK WITH THEM ON ANY SEARCH TEAMS WHEN NEEDED. WE DID NOT SEARCH FOR ANYONE IN 2022.

NATIONAL MISSING CHILDREN'S DAY: A MULTI-AGENCY EVENT EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON ABDUCTION PREVENTIONS AND GENERAL CHILD SAFETY ISSUES. IT IS IMPORTANT FOR GASP TO INFORM OUR COMMUNITY THAT ABDUCTIONS HAPPEN AND WE CAN HELP BY EDUCATING AND PROVIDING MATERIAL AND AGENCIES TO HELP OUR FAMILIES SO THIS DOS NOT HAPPEN HERE WE PARTNER WITH THE NATIONAL CENTER OF MISSING AND EXPLOITED CHILDREN, SUMMIT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE, THE SUMMIT COUNTY PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE, SUMMIT COUNTY CHILDREN SERVICES, AND OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES THAT FOCUS ON CHILDREN AND FAMILY WELLNESS. WE HELD OUR ANNUAL EVENT AT SUMMIT MALL WITH 10 OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES.

EDUCATION AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS: WE PROVIDE EDUCATION PROGRAMS TO SCHOOLS, CHAMBER MEETINGS, CHURCH GROUPS, AND COMMUNITY AGENCIES AND EVENTS. WE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON BULLYING, CYBER-BULLYING, INTERNET AND PHONE SAFETY, SEXTING, UNCOMFORTABLE TOUCHING, GUN SAFETY, AND ANY OTHER CHILD SAFETY ISSUES. THIS YEAR WE PARTICIPATED AND PARTNERED IN THE COLLEGE AND CAREER ACADEMIES AT BUCHTEL MIDDLE SCHOOL. WE REACHED OUT TO ALL THE 6TH GRADE CLASSES AND HAD DISCUSSIONS ON BULLYING, INTERNET SAFETY AND SEXTING. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED QUITE A BIT OF SAFETY MATERIAL TO EACH STUDENT. WE ALSO ATTENDED CLASSES FOR GRADES 6 AND 7 AT JENNINGS MIDDLE SCHOOL USING THE SAME TOPICS USED AT BUCHTEL MIDDLE SCHOOL.