Human trafficking and child exploitation are serious human rights challenges facing communities across the United States. Prevention begins with awareness, and meaningful change happens when communities come together to equip young people with the knowledge and tools they need to stay safe.
In February 2026, Our Rescue had the opportunity to partner with the Chicago Area Project (CAP) to deliver an online safety and human trafficking prevention training for youth across CAP’s affiliate network.
Founded on a mission of empowering communities and reducing juvenile delinquency, Chicago Area Project has long been a leader in community development and youth engagement. Through community organizing, direct services, and advocacy, CAP works to improve neighborhood conditions, support positive youth development, and strengthen local communities. Their commitment to creating opportunities for young people includes a monthly curriculum for the young people in the area they serve, allowing for a great partnership opportunity.
At Our Rescue, prevention is a critical part of our mission. We equip people with knowledge and tools to protect their families, neighborhoods, and communities, helping prevent human trafficking and exploitation before it starts. Through customized training programs, community partnerships, and awareness initiatives, we work alongside organizations, educators, parents, and youth to build safer communities and strengthen local prevention efforts.
Discover the online trainings available on our Training & Prevention Page.
Led by Our Rescue, the virtual session brought together over 40 students in high school and college to help children learn about the risks of online exploitation, how to recognize signs of a potential threat, and what actions to take next.
In addition, Our Rescue partnered with CAP youth to test out new interactive games – Level Ready Quest – for children and teens. The games seek to teach players about safe decision-making through interactive scenarios and to locate trusted adults, resources, and support systems in the event they found themselves facing a potential threat.
Get started playing games such as Digital Detective and Friend or Foe
Kathleen Mosely with CAP shared constructive and positive feedback from attendees who tested the games. She noted that the game was intuitive for players to figure out. According to Mosely, the game also was used to help facilitate an in-depth conversation about online safety among students.
“These students were so excited about the game,” added Mosely. “Parents reported that conversations on the ride home were about the game and how to be safe online, even going so far as to argue about whether or not it was a good idea to post photos of children on Facebook sharing their first day of school.”
This student training – learning about online safety by testing a game prototype – grew into meaningful discussions with parents, some of whom admitted they hadn’t thought of things like posting a “Day One” school picture as creating a potential danger. Parents also provided feedback that they intended to monitor their children more as they play video games and use the internet.
CAP youth feedback and subsequent discussions about the game were incorporated as the Our Rescue team developed and finalized our games for children and teens.
The February training was designed to be engaging, interactive, and relevant to the realities young people face today. Participants learned about online safety, the tactics human traffickers use to target and manipulate victims, warning signs of exploitation, and practical strategies for protecting themselves and others. The session included presentations, demonstrations, quizzes, and breakout discussions that encouraged active participation and thoughtful dialogue.
What made this training especially memorable was the level of engagement from attendees.
Virtual presentations can often present challenges when it comes to participation and interaction, particularly when working with youth audiences. However, CAP leaders reported that this session generated an unusually high level of involvement from participants.
Following the training, one CAP staff member shared:
When I say that was one of the best presentations ever! Seriously. Zoom is tricky when it comes to presentations, engagement, and these young people. This restored my faith that you just have to have the right people.
The staff member went on to note that CAP requires youth representation from each of its affiliated communities during monthly workshops but rarely experiences the level of participation seen during the Our Rescue session.
“We never get the full participation like that.”
The positive response extended beyond the youth attendees. CAP leadership expressed excitement about the partnership, and several staff members expressed interest in becoming more involved in future trainings.
Our hope is that every attendee left the session with a greater understanding of how exploitation occurs, increased awareness of online safety practices, and the confidence to speak up if they encounter concerning situations affecting themselves or others.
This training also highlights the importance of collaboration between community organizations. Prevention is most effective when schools, families, nonprofits, youth leaders, and community advocates work together toward a common goal. CAP’s dedication to empowering young people and fostering community engagement created an environment where these conversations could take place in a meaningful and impactful way.
As Our Rescue continues to expand training and prevention efforts across the country, partnerships like the one with CAP demonstrate the power of community-based solutions. Together, we can strengthen awareness, build resilience, and help protect vulnerable individuals from human trafficking and exploitation before harm occurs.
