Local, statewide, and national initiatives will raise awareness of pervasive issue
Hollywood, Fla. – In honor of April’s designation as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Lauren’s Kids, a South Florida-based nonprofit, is launching local, statewide, and nationwide initiatives to raise awareness, educate communities on prevention, and empower survivors of child sexual abuse. Efforts include a 1,500-mile walk — with support from major Florida sports teams, a national partnership with the YMCA, legislative advocacy, and a friendship bracelet program providing support for survivors.
Lauren’s Kids will be taking their resources on the road to visit communities across Florida for its 10th “Walk in My Shoes” event. Starting on April 1, Lauren’s Kids Founder and CEO Senator Lauren Book will lead a 1,500-mile trek across the state from the Southernmost Point of the United States in Key West to the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee. Along the way, the nonprofit will partner with Florida’s sexual assault treatment centers, children’s advocacy centers, child protection units, Bikers Against Child Abuse, local schools, professional sports organizations – including the Miami HEAT and the Florida Panthers, elected officials, and more to unite communities, increase awareness of prevention efforts, and help survivors heal.
“The greatest risk factor for abuse is simply being a child — and as we lace up our sneakers to walk across the state, we are reminded that this fight is far from over,” says Senator Book, one of the 42 million survivors of child sexual abuse living in the U.S. today. “Our April advocacy is about more than just raising awareness — it’s about action, education, and empowering communities to protect our most vulnerable. Together, we can build a safer, stronger future for every child.”
Lauren’s Kids encourages the public to get involved through several opportunities, including:
- Participating in the YMCA’s “Know. See. Respond.” Five Days of Action Campaign
To reach communities nationwide, Lauren’s Kids is partnering with the YMCA for the YMCA 2025 Five Days of Action “Know. See. Respond.” campaign. Local YMCA organizations across the country will use Lauren’s Kids “Safer, Smarter Families” toolkit to help children and families prevent child abuse through education.
- Participating in the Lauren’s Kids Friendship Bracelet Program
In celebration of the milestone year, Lauren’s Kids launched a Friendship Bracelet Program to bring hope, healing, and support to survivors of child sexual abuse and sexual assault. Lauren’s Kids has provided centers across the state with bracelet-making kits so survivors can make bracelets featuring words of encouragement for other survivors, like ‘Brave,’ ‘Strong,’ and ‘Hope.’ The bracelets they make will be exchanged with other centers to help foster community and belonging. The public is invited to join in this effort by making bracelets and sending them to Lauren’s Kids: 4000 Hollywood Boulevard, Suite 677-S, Hollywood, FL 33021.
- Raise awareness of and support legislation to protect children in Florida
Lauren’s Kids is supporting legislation to increase protections for children across the state and strengthen penalties for child abusers. During the 2025 Legislative Session, Lauren’s Kids is supporting the following bills:
- SB 1084/HB 1451 – Sexual Cyberharassment – Enhancing penalties for individuals who share intimate photos and videos without consent, including real shared/stolen and created “deepfake” content
- SB 1180/ HB 757- Sexual Images – Combatting the creation and distribution of child sexual abuse materials (CSAM)
- SB 1804/HB 1283 – Capital Sex Trafficking – Enhancing penalties for those who sexually traffic children and individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities
- SB 1400/HB 1161 – Removal of Altered Sexual Depictions Posted without Consent – Enhances the ability for victims to have “deepfake” content removed from digital platforms
- SB 1654/ HB 1351 – Registration of Sexual Predators and Sexual Offenders – Enhancing reporting requirements for sexual predators
- SB 1718 / SB 1503 – Harm to Minors / “Protecting Our Children” Act – Enhancing law enforcement’s ability to access encrypted digital messages when a child has been sexually abused or assaulted, enhancing penalties for predators who lure and solicit children under the age of 12
- Join the Lauren’s Kids team at a “Walk in My Shoes” stop
- Tues. April 1: Key West school visit
- Wed. April 2: Key West Walk kickoff from the Southern Most Point with Christina’s Courage local sexual assault program
- Thurs. April 3: Miami-Dade school visit, Homestead Walk with MUJER sexual assault program, Miami HEAT game recognition
- Fri. April 4: Miami walks with Kristi House children’s advocacy center and the Roxcy Bolton Rape Crisis Center at Jackson Health Systems – the nation’s first rape crisis center
- Sat. April 5: Fort Lauderdale walk with the Nancy J. Cotterman Sexual Assault Treatment Center
- Sun. April 6: Boca Raton walk with Palm Beach County Victim Services
- Mon. April 7: Coral Springs Walk, Aston Gardens Senior Community visit
- Tues. April 8: PACE Center for Girls visit, Fort Lauderdale senior group visit, Broward County school visit, Florida Panthers game – Lauren Book drops the puck
- Wed. April 9: Naples to Fort Myers Walk with Project HELP, Collier County Child Advocacy Center, Southwest Florida Child Advocacy Center, and the Abuse & Counseling Treatment (ACT) Center
- Thurs. April 10: Walk Sarasota to Bradenton with Safe Place Rape Crisis Center, Manatee Children’s Services and Centerstone of Florida
- Fri. April 11: Pasco School Visit and Walk with Pasco Kids First and Sunrise of Pasco
- Sat. April 12: Tampa Walk with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay
- Mon. April 14: Lakeland service project – renovating sexual assault exam room at Peace River Victim Services
- Tues. April 15: Lakeland Walk with Peace River Victim Services and the Children’s Home Society of Florida Children’s Advocacy Center
- Wed. April 16: Cocoa Beach to Satellite Beach with Brevard Children’s Advocacy Center and Sexual Assault Victim Services (SAVS) at the Women’s Center
- Thurs. April 17: Daytona Beach Walk starting at Daytona International Speedway with the Family Life Center’s Sexual Violence Center of Volusia and Flagler
- Fri. April 18: St. Augustine Walk with Betty Griffin Center
- Sat. April 19: Orlando Walk with Victims Service Center of Central Florida and the Howard Philips Center for Children and Families
- Mon. April 21: Ocala Walk with Kimberly’s Center for Child Protection, the Marion County Sexual Assault Program, and Jessie’s Place, and Haven of Lake, Sumter, and Marion Counties
- Tues. April 22: Gainesville Walk with the Child Advocacy Center of Gainesville
- Wed. April 23: Jacksonville Walk with Women’s Center of Jacksonville
- Thurs. April 24: Fort Walton Beach Walk with Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center
- Fri. April 25: Pensacola Walk with Gulf Coast Kids House
- Sat. April 26: Panama City Walk with Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center
- Mon. April 28: Marianna Walk with Gulf Coast Sexual Assault Program
- Wed. April 29: Tallahassee school visit and lighting the Historic Capitol teal/blue for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Child Abuse Prevention Month
- Thurs. April 30: Tallahassee Walk with Refuge House, the Florida Council Against Sexual Violence, the Florida Network of Child Advocacy Centers, and the “Rally in Tally” at the Historic Florida Capitol
“Through our ambitious local, state-level, and national initiatives, we’re shining light in dark places and sending a message that survivors of sexual assault will not be silenced,” continued Book. “We are also dedicated to preventing abuse by raising awareness. Every step, every bracelet, every bit of education shared helps to prevent child sexual abuse and create safer communities.”
To register for a Walk in My Shoes event, visit LaurensKidsWalk.org. Once the walk kicks off on April 2, live-streaming of the walk will be available at LaurensKidsWalk.org, and high-res photos will be available daily at LaurensKidsPhotos.org.
