Our Goals

1. Secure Sustainable Funding & Staffing
   Advocate for consistent and adequate funding and staffing for agencies combatting child maltreatment and for Crimes Against Children (CAC) law enforcement units. These frontline defenders deserve the resources to effectively protect our most vulnerable.

2. Provide Comprehensive Mental Health Support
   Partner with states to ensure free, high-quality mental health services are available to the professionals who witness the unimaginable every day—burned infants, broken bones, starved toddlers, and child deaths. These advocates and officers often earn near-poverty wages while carrying the heavy burden of lifelong PTSD.

3. Expand 'The Other Wildlife' Program
   Grow SCARS’ outdoor initiative that connects foster and at-risk youth with healing nature experiences like fishing, hiking, boating, and hunting. These adventures may offer more than just a joyful escape—they might help open doors to a brighter future once thought impossible.

4. Deploy Electronic Detection K9 Units Nationwide
   In partnership with the Shadow Warriors Project, provide every state with elite-trained Electronic Storage Detection (ESD) K9s and handlers. These dogs are specially trained to detect hidden electronics often used to store Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). Arkansas is already seeing success using their K9s during CSAM investigations and compliance checks of sex offenders.

5. Strengthen Legal Response Through Grand Jury Triggers
   Advocate for legislative and prosecutorial mechanisms that automatically convene Grand Juries when severe physical or sexual abuse cases are referred by CACs or law enforcement. Too many reports never reach prosecution—and too many predators remain untouched by the justice system.

6. Protect Child Victims from Courtroom Re-Traumatization
   Push for policies that prevent defendants accused of child sex crimes from having unsupervised access to explicit images or video evidence involving victims—whether printed or digital. Many use this material for further gratification, compounding harm to the child. This restriction is already standard in the Federal Bureau of Prisons and should extend to court proceedings.

7. Launch 'Learn to Play' Music Program for Foster Youth
   In collaboration with artists like Nita Strauss of Alice Cooper, we’re developing a virtual music education program for youth in foster care and group homes. Learning an instrument provides therapeutic expression and creative escape—and may uncover hidden musical talent in youth who have long been overlooked. #savingkidzrocks

8. Establish a National Child Maltreatment Information Center
   Create and mandate use of a centralized, national repository to track all reports of child maltreatment and crimes against children, even when arrests or prosecutions do not occur. This will prevent predators from avoiding accountability simply by moving across state lines and reoffending elsewhere.