Category: Safe Communities Corner

It used to be that nicotine addiction alone drove the cigarette industry. Sure, each brand had their own slogan or spokesperson to draw business their way, but a cigarette was a cigarette. Aside from choosing between brands and filter options, there just wasn't much thought that was put into the habit. The early e-cigarettes looked just like a traditional cigarette but as the market evolved, companies began to draw users, both adults and teens alike, by making the devices visually appealing and by offering ways to customize the delivery of whatever product you decide to ingest. Let's talk about the…

Step back, even as early as the 70's, and there was a time when Joe Camel, the Marlboro Man, and many "doctors" assured us that smoking was not only cool, it was a safe and effective way to relieve stress. We all know now that we were grossly misinformed. Lung cancer became the leading cause of cancer deaths and the message had to change. Government regulations and a campaign against nicotine addiction made an attempt to reclaim the health of America. By the 1990's, the incidence and mortality rates of lung cancer had largely declined. Enter e-cigarettes. Initially, electronic cigarettes were…

Have you noticed the signs of an abusive relationship in your child? Maybe your intuition is telling you that something about your child's new relationship is 'off'. Do you feel like you are in a tug-of-war battle over your child with a boy/girlfriend? If you notice any of these things, your child is probably in an unhealthy relationship. If your child is dating an unhealthy person, keeping a close relationship to her/him is the best thing you can do. The brutal truth is, that's easier said than done. An abusive partner will do everything possible to alienate your child from…

Trying to get out of a harmful relationship once it starts can be an incredibly difficult process for both the victim and the people who love him/her. Having conversations about the warning signs of abusive relationships BEFORE they occur will give your teen a powerful tool in preventing abuse...knowledge.Here are 10 warning signs to look for as red flags to dating abuse:Using insults, intimidation, or humiliation: This is part of the mental breakdown of a victim.Extreme jealousy, insecurity, or controlling behavior: This might not always seem extreme at first. It starts out very subtle. A "joke" about what they want…

It's no secret that children who have parents who not only take an interest in their activities, but help guide good choices through boundaries and consequences, tend to make healthy decisions throughout their lives. Most parents take an active role in their children's school career and financial habits. While many discuss dating and relationships (in fact, more than they talk about drugs and alcohol), many leave out conversations about unhealthy relationships and dating abuse. Parental involvement in this area provides a protective barrier to safeguard children from engaging in risky relationships. What are steps you can take as a parent…

Nobody wants to imagine that young teens could be anything but smitten and the kind of significant other that fairy tales are made of. The fact that there is a month dedicated to raising awareness for teen dating violence, however, should be enough to peak our attention and have us asking 'why'. This is an issue that not only impacts the children involved, but parents, educators, friends, and the community as well. One in three teens will experience dating abuse before they become adults. To begin, let's take a look at what defines dating violence. Dating violence can happen in…

We have been encouraging parents to monitor their children's online activity since the birth of the Safe Communities Coalition in 2022. Most of what you're looking for on a phone, or any kind of online platform, seems relatively straight forward. Are your kids messaging strangers, are they giving out personal information, are they sending or receiving inappropriate conversations or pictures, are they accessing pornography? All that should be easy to spot, however, due to the nature of human trafficking and the subtle manipulation that happens over time, identifying someone who is trying to groom your child or loved one into…

If I say the words 'human trafficking' to you, what comes to mind? A white van? A third-world country? A semi full of women and children being held against their will? If you saw last week's blog, you know that this type of trafficking only accounts for less than 3% of the victims. The other 97% are trafficked by someone they know and often love. So what does that look like in a community?This week we're going to talk about some of the myths vs realities of human trafficking and what we, as a community, can be aware of to…

If you've seen The Sound of Freedom, it probably cemented your idea of what human trafficking looks like: children lured by strangers into a trap, whisked away from their families, and sent to a third world country to serve as money-making pawns for the cartels. Yes, that is the gut-wrenching reality some children face, but not as many as you would think. In fact, this accounts for less than 3% of trafficked individuals.The remaining 97% of trafficking victims know their trafficker at some level. Sadly, the vast majority of them have been so manipulated that they would tell you, not…

In 1865, the 13th amendment abolished slavery in America. While we celebrate the end of that dark time in our history, the unfortunate reality is that slavery is still very much alive. It is estimated that, in America alone, there are over 403,000 people being trafficked for either labor or sex. Because of Iowa's central location connecting major cities like Chicago, Kansas City, and Omaha it offers a unique -dare I say- support to this industry, which means that 'Iowa nice' isn't enough to make us immune to this issue. Traffickers take advantage of the mid-western attitude that bad things…