To Report Child Abuse

Nebraska: 1 (800) 652-1999
Iowa: 1 (800) 362-2178

To Contact Us

(402) 595-1326
Hours: Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
After hours by appointment only

Resources

Project Harmony’s resources are accessible to all, empowering the community and equipping caregivers to ensure children have a safe family environment.

Supporting Your Family in Times of Need

Child abuse crosses ALL boundaries and is not limited by ethnicity, geography, or socio-economic standing. The good news is, that if we as responsible adults arm ourselves with the facts, we CAN end child abuse.

Personal empowerment helps provide adults with the capacity and momentum to take action against child abuse and neglect. With personal empowerment, we can start the conversation, make choices, take risks, and support each other – the foundation of The 5 Steps to Protecting Our Children.

Start the Conversation

One of the best protections is our relationship with children. Have open conversations with children about body safety and boundaries. When we talk to children in age appropriate ways about our bodies, sex and boundaries, children understand what healthy relationships look like. It also teaches them that they have the right to say “no.”

Together, we can end child abuse. END IT. But to do this — to really do this — we all have to have a stake in it. You are part of the solution.

Let’s work together to make our community a safer place for all children. Commit to being someone in the life of a child today at projectbesomone.org.

 

Take the pledge

 

The key is to start these conversations when children are young, and have these conversations often.


How do you initiate the conversation? Use our fun and engaging poster or the Nine Strategies for Beginning the Conversation as a guide when speaking with children.

Download the Poster – English
Download the Poster – Spanish

Make Choices

We have the ability, both in our organization and in our families, to make proactive choices that protect children and keep them safe from abuse. If we want our children to be happy and healthy, we have to make choices which support that goal.

Take Risks

Choices often involve some personal risk that takes us outside our comfort zones, like talking to children about sexual boundaries, redirecting an adult who’s crossing boundaries, or making an actual report. Sometimes we have to take risks, even if we are uncertain or don’t know the outcomes, to make sure a child is protected.

Support Each Other

When children take their first steps, ride their first bike, or climb into the driver’s seat for the very first time, there is usually someone beside them providing guidance and support. It’s easier to take big steps when you know you have someone on your side, ready to lend a hand if you need it. As communities, as organizations, and as individuals, we can give support to others’ efforts to prevent child sexual abuse, and we can ask for support when we need it.

Caregiver Support Group

Project Harmony facilitates a free Caregiver Support Group that meets on occasion via Zoom throughout the year. The group offers a safe place for healing, empowerment, connection and education for caregivers of children who have experience sexual abuse and trauma. Topics covered may include, but are not limited to:

  • Understanding trauma and its effect on children
  • How trauma affects families
  • Coping and communication
  • Parenting challenges after a child is exposed to trauma
  • Self-awareness and self-care

If you are interested in joining or have any questions, please email us at caregiversupportgrpshared@projectharmony.com and one of our facilitators will be happy to help. We look forward to hearing from you.

How to Support a Child or Teen

  • Healing begins with relationships. The adult helping relationship is the most powerful tool we have to assist kids in healing from traumatic events. Help children feel safe, and identify five people who they can trust.
  • Believe children when they say they are hurt, and let them know it is not their fault.
  • Let the child know that it is OK to talk about what has happened. When children are ready, it helps to be able to talk about the abuse and/or violence in their lives with trusted adults.
  • Download My Dark Secret by Katie Trimble to learn more about how you can be someone in the life of a child.

Find more resources at Project Be Someone

This is only the beginning.

Child sexual abuse is a very complex problem, and these steps touch only on a small part of it. For more in-depth understanding of child sexual abuse prevention, take our Stewards of Children training.

Register for an Upcoming Training

We wish to thank you for your hospitality and the wonderful program and tour of Project Harmony. We are so fortunate to have an organization acting on the behalf of our children with such outstanding enthusiasm and dedication.

- Rotary Club of Omaha Northwest

Thank you so much for coming to Children’s and speaking to our staff. Your talk on “Understanding Poverty” was excellent, and I could see “wheels turning” as some staff members commented on simple ways their interactions might make a difference for children and parents.

- Patty Carrell, CMSW

I have felt that my input has been highly valued and respected when it comes to doing my job, and that is something that speaks volumes to the working environment here at Project Harmony.

- Brenda Jewell

We began collaborating with the Project Harmony through their Connections program last year, and we’ve continued the partnership. Connections represents an extremely valuable partnership and an opportunity to provide our students with a bridge to mental health services.

- Papillion La Vista Community Schools

Our experience and partnership with Project Harmony/Connections has been fantastic! It is a comfort knowing we have a partner who can connect our students and families with the appropriate resources in times of crisis or trauma.

- Millard Public Schools

This shadowing experience actually made me very interested in this field. One aspect that helped me narrow my choice of careers is the environment that Project Harmony had. It was very upbeat, cheerful and bright.

- UNMC High School Alliance Program – Student Journal

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Project Harmony for planning and delivering professional development to our 70 counselors, social workers and community counselors. We feel fortunate to have such a valuable resource in our community to partner with.

- Millard Public Schools

You have a top rate program – really national quality. I’m totally impressed.

- Lisa Fontes

At our last D2 Center Board meeting, I was describing the training and professional development we provide for our staff. At the top of the list was Project Harmony. Please know that you are providing an invaluable service to nonprofits in our community.

- Greg Emmel

Congratulations on the great media coverage of your Stewards class at Project Harmony on WOWT. You did a great job articulating the importance of prevention, and Susan was amazing too. Thank you so much for your partnership and all the important work you are doing.

- Cindy McElhinney – Darkness to Light

Just wanted to know that you made a difference in my life, and I will be using that momentum to make a difference in the lives of others. You are truly a rock star and a role model for me. Thank you for a new life I’m getting the chance to live.

- Anonymous

Many children through my caseload have received a backpack generously donated to the Project Harmony Triage Center. I have witnessed many faces light up when given the opportunity to pick out a new backpack, and I am very grateful for the generosity of the Junior League.

- DHHS – Children & Family Services

I have never felt as valued at other organizations like I do at Project Harmony. I really feel that the culture of a working environment is incredibly important. If an employee feels respected, valued and supported, that person will likely give more to fulfill the mission.

- Javier Castellote

Nick and Javier were great teachers and role players. It gave us an opportunity to see how someone in that situation would have reacted to our questions. They did a great job at showing us the difference between sympathy and empathy.

- Anonymous

I was able to shadow Mr. Nick Zadina. He was in charge of dealing with abused kids and help them. I am thankful to know all the information I learned during shadowing because it was eye opening.

- UNMC High School Alliance Program – Student Journal

The experience at Project Harmony was a deepening reminder of empathy that will be vital in my career as a nurse. I felt my perspective was widened on how others think, especially when discussing the assumptions we make.

- Anonymous

I didn’t know how many people work at Project Harmony, so I drew a lot to show how much Project Harmony means to me!

- Project Harmony Client

As difficult as a removal is on a child, the backpack they receive at Project Harmony provides a sense of belonging and hope. It truly is amazing something that seems so simple can change the perspective and shine light on these children.

- DHHS – Children & Family Services

Great leadership for a wonderful cause with outstanding long-term goals. Keep on doing all the good you do.

- Bill & Jean O’Conner

Project Harmony is the reason I started my journey in college. I just finished my associates and I'm going for my bachelors now in Child Protection and Juvenile Justice. Y'all helped my daughter back in early 2013 and I knew what I wanted to do with my life — help children.

- LaLa Ann

A young lady who works in our field told me that she loved what we do here at Project Harmony — she had been to Project Harmony seven years ago for a forensic interview. She said her positive experience was the biggest reason she is doing the work that she is today.

- Trainee

I found out that my foster son is going to have a forensic interview here at Project Harmony soon. It’s been interesting being on the other side of things and feeling so reassured that the child I care so deeply about is in very caring and capable hands.

- Jessica Kroeker

Nick demonstrated how one person could impact a huge group of student nurses by just attending his presentation. He gave me the reason, the courage to act, and the knowledge how to save victims that I will face in my future nursing career.

- Anonymous

I recently attended the Testifying Training course. Since that class I have been subpoenaed three times, and I had to testify at each hearing. Without this class I would have been less than prepared and too nervous to be credible. Thank you so much!

- Jenny Lewis

You are part of the solution.

The cycle of abuse does not have to continue, but we can’t end it alone. Anyone has the power to be someone who makes our community a safe place for all children.

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