Youth protection
Youth Protection and Exploitation Prevention
Building safety, dignity, accountability, and trusted relationships into Tennessee Outdoor Hope from the very beginning.
Tennessee Outdoor Hope believes every young person deserves to feel safe, valued, and protected. We are committed to creating outdoor experiences and mentoring relationships supported by strong safeguards, trained adults, clear boundaries, responsible reporting procedures, and trusted community partnerships.
Protection is foundational
Safety is designed in, not added later.
Tennessee Outdoor Hope does not merely provide outdoor experiences. We intentionally work to create safe environments, trusted relationships, and protective communities that reduce vulnerability and help young people recognize their dignity, strength, and future.
Youth protection and exploitation prevention will be considered in every program, property, partnership, volunteer role, and organizational growth decision. Our goal is to establish a culture in which concerns are raised early, boundaries are respected, reports are handled responsibly, and participant safety takes priority over reputation or convenience.
Our approach
Six commitments that shape everything we build.
Safer program environments
Age-appropriate supervision, program boundaries, participant safety planning, and safeguards designed around the needs of the young people we serve.
Screened and prepared adults
Appropriate screening, role-specific training, codes of conduct, and clear expectations for staff members, volunteers, mentors, guides, and partners.
Exploitation prevention
Trauma-informed education and protective practices that help adults recognize vulnerabilities, concerning behavior, grooming patterns, and possible indicators of exploitation.
Responsible reporting
Clear procedures for documenting concerns, escalating urgent issues, complying with applicable reporting requirements, and connecting individuals with qualified authorities and service providers.
Trusted partnerships
Relationships with anti-trafficking professionals, survivor-serving organizations, child-advocacy professionals, law enforcement, prosecutors, and other qualified community partners.
Continuous accountability
Regular review of policies, practices, training, incidents, and emerging risks so safeguards continue to develop as Tennessee Outdoor Hope grows.
Working together to prevent exploitation
Prevention is a collaboration.
Preventing exploitation requires responsible collaboration. Tennessee Outdoor Hope seeks to develop trusted relationships with qualified anti-trafficking professionals, survivor-serving organizations, child-advocacy organizations, law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, healthcare professionals, educators, and community leaders.
We do not seek to duplicate the specialized work of established professionals. Our role is to build safer programs, strengthen protective relationships, provide responsible education, recognize and report concerns appropriately, and connect individuals with qualified resources and authorities.
Law enforcement, anti-trafficking organizations, prosecutors, child-advocacy centers, and other qualified partners can submit an inquiry directly below.
Our role and boundaries
Clear about what we do — and what we do not.
Tennessee Outdoor Hope’s Youth Protection & Exploitation Prevention program is focused on prevention, education, safeguarding, responsible reporting, referral, and partnership development. This program does not independently investigate suspected trafficking, determine whether a crime occurred, provide emergency intervention, offer legal representation, or provide clinical treatment.
Concerns involving immediate danger should be directed to emergency services. Suspected abuse or exploitation should be reported through the appropriate authorities and qualified reporting channels.
Partnership inquiry
Build a partnership with Tennessee Outdoor Hope.
We welcome responsible collaboration with law enforcement agencies, anti-trafficking organizations, prosecutor’s offices, child-advocacy centers, survivor-serving organizations, and other qualified partners. Tell us who you are and how you’d like to work together.
Find help or report a concern
Where to turn, by situation.
Immediate emergencies
Call 911
If someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical or law-enforcement response, call 911.
Call or text 988 for free, confidential crisis support, 24/7.
Suspected child abuse or neglect
1-877-237-0004 — report suspected child abuse or neglect in Tennessee, 24 hours a day.
Report suspected online exploitation of a child to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
Suspected human trafficking
National Human Trafficking Hotline
1-888-373-7888 — or text 233733. Free, confidential, available 24 hours a day in multiple languages.
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
TBI receives reports of suspected human trafficking in Tennessee at 1-800-TBI-FIND (1-800-824-3463).
Help Us Build a Safer Future
We welcome responsible collaboration with professionals and organizations committed to protecting young people, preventing exploitation, strengthening families, and creating communities where every participant is treated with dignity.