Public Awareness
Lauren’s Kids raises awareness about prevention of and healing from child sexual abuse through EMMY and ADDY Award-winning public awareness campaigns, media engagement, public advocacy events, and speaking engagements around the country and the world.
Topic-Based Videos and PSAs
One of the biggest barriers to preventing child sexual abuse is lack of education and awareness. That’s why Lauren’s Kids created a series of EMMY Award-winning public service announcements (PSAs) and a series of short educational videos discussing different aspects of child sexual abuse explained by experts, survivors and even a convicted child molester in an effort to shine light on this dark issue.
Click here to watch these topic-based videos.
Click here to watch Lauren’s Kids’ award-winning PSAs.
Don’t Miss the Signs Public Awareness Materials
Lauren’s Kids created the Don’t Miss the Signs comprehensive public awareness campaign with the Florida Department of Children and Families to educate Floridians about the signs of child abuse and ALL adults’ legal obligation to report suspected abuse. The award-winning campaign has been replicated throughout the country, thanks in part to dollars from the Penn State Restitution Fund.
Click here to learn more about the Don’t Miss the Signs campaign and to download free materials or contact us to request printed copies of posters, rack cards, etc.
Intimate Crimes Television Program
A 30-minute television special that aims to educate parents about child sexual abuse and how to protect their children, Intimate Crimes: The Inside Story of Child Sexual Abuse, features Florida experts, adult survivors of child sexual abuse, advocates and a convicted pedophile. Click here to watch the Intimate Crimes program.
Out of Darkness, Into Light
A half hour documentary which delves into the lives of three adult survivors of child sexual abuse – including Lauren Book. Statistics show that ninety percent of child victims know their offender, with almost half of the offenders being a family member. With this knowledge, it is believed through education and awareness child sexual abuse can be prevented. Click here to watch Out of Darkness, Into Light.
Study: The Lifelong Consequences of Child Sexual Abuse
Child sexual abuse has lifelong individual and societal costs – as documented in a detailed research study by Lauren’s Kids revealing the costly consequences of child sexual abuse on survivors’ success in every aspect of life, from education to health care to lifetime earnings. The study recognized that each victim of child sexual abuse faces an average loss of at least $210,102 in lifetime earnings. Among Florida children ages 0-19 today, this costs Florida’s economy more than $1 billion a year.
Click here to view the study, and here for a summary infographic.
Speaking Engagements
Lauren’s Kids founder Lauren Book is an advocate, former classroom educator, Florida State Senator, and one of 42 million survivors of child sexual abuse in the U.S. today. Lauren speaks at events, conferences, schools and universities domestically and internationally on topics ranging from her personal story of abuse and healing to abuse prevention to women’s leadership and empowerment. Click here to watch Lauren’s TEDx Talk at Oxford University in England.
Public Awareness Events
In addition to Lauren’s Kids public awareness campaigns, the foundation also hosts a series of awareness events to educate communities, empower survivors, and advocate for legislative and cultural change. For more information, check out the Events section of LaurensKids.org.