Shine Green With Us!

Shine A Light This November

November is National Runaway Prevention Month

Did you know, on average, there are over 3,000 reports of missing juveniles under the age of 18 in the Omaha area in a given year? These youth are most vulnerable to sexual exploitation, sex trafficking and other victimization due to their young age and vulnerabilities.

A triage system has been established for non-system involved missing youth to be brought to Project Harmony for a thorough mental/behavioral health assessment, medical exam, forensic interview (if needed), advocacy, crisis counseling with the youth and caretaker, and connection to appropriate community services.

If needed, a follow up multi-disciplinary team review will be conducted with current providers, DHHS, law enforcement, Juvenile County Attorney and other professionals with expertise working with non-system involved youth, human trafficking, trauma, etc. to ensure information sharing, comprehensive treatment planning and identification and development of any service/resource needs or gaps.

If you are a caregiver or concerned party of a youth in Nebraska who has run away, please report them missing to your local police department and the Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-652-1999. You can also call Project Harmony at 402-595-1326 for support services. Just ask to talk to a staff member in the Missing Youth Services Program and we will be glad to assist you however we can.

Click on the above microlearning to learn more about the common signs of trafficking and discover how Project Harmony and law enforcement work together to interrupt the abuse.

In the News

Collaboration and Care

The 6-year-old girl who wanted to share the blanket she was given by Project Harmony still tugs at Gene Klein’s heart.

The girl, who was brought to Project Harmony after authorities discovered she had been abused, illustrates the impact that Project Harmony has had helping victims of abuse and neglect during the past 25 years. More...

Meet Kassandra Nolasco

Bilingual Missing Youth Services Coordinator

Explain your position with Project Harmony: As a coordinator for the Missing Youth Services Program I reach out to the caregivers of the youth who have had missing reports made for them. My goal is to help connect the youth and family to resources and supports so that the youth doesn't continue to run from home.

What led you to work at Project Harmony: The opportunity to join this team came at the right time and it couldn't have been more perfect.

Tell me about someone who has influenced your decision to work at Project Harmony or a mentor who has helped the most in your career: I worked for DHHS prior to working at Project Harmony and I had the best supervisor anyone could ever have, Lana Connor. Lana taught me so much about this field of work and I am forever thankful to have had her as my supervisor and mentor. Lana, along with Holly Sly and Breanna Delp are the ones who influenced my decision to work at Project Harmony. The passion that they have for what they do is something I've always admired.

How do you enjoy spending your time when you are not working: I enjoy spending time with my boyfriend, family, and friends. I also enjoy traveling!

What is the one thing you are most proud of about your job: I am proud of this program and that we are a resource to many families. I am even more proud that I am able to help so many Spanish speaking youth and families.

November 2022

Project Harmony is a child advocacy center whose mission is to protect and support children, collaborate with professionals and engage the community to end child abuse and neglect.

Project Harmony Website

Training Catalog

Our Wish List

Training Calendar

November 2

Child Abuse and Neglect 101

In-Person at Project Harmony

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

This course prepares mandatory reporters with the knowledge and skills to recognize and report child abuse and neglect along with an overview of the different types of abuse and their prevalence in Nebraska.

November 4

Resilience Film Screening

In-Person at Project Harmony

12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

This is a one-hour documentary that delves into the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the birth of a new movement to prevent and treat toxic stress. Join us for an in-person screening to learn more about using cutting edge science to help the next generation break the cycles of adversity and disease and participate in a facilitated discussion following the film.

November 9

Child Abuse and Neglect 101

In-Person at Project Harmony

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

November 9

Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children

In-Person at Project Harmony

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

This is a prevention training program that teaches adults how to recognize, prevent and react responsibly to child sexual abuse. This is the only nationally distributed, evidence-based program proven to increase knowledge, improve attitudes, and change child protective behaviors.

November 14

Project Harmony Tour

In-Person at Project Harmony

8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

The tour provides a history of Project Harmony and child advocacy centers, an overview of the various departments within Project Harmony, and the roles of our co-located partners. Join us in person for a closer look inside our organization.

November 14

Navigating EBP: Part 2

Webinar

11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

In this training you will learn the questions that a well-informed advocate needs to ask in order to find the right mental health services and practitioner for a child.

November 16

Engaging through Empathy

Webinar

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

In this course, participants will learn how to approach clients in a way to create sustainable change by building trusted relationships.

November 16

Below the Line

Webinar

1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Training supports participants in gaining insight helpful to working with those who live in poverty.

November 17

Trauma in the LGBTQ+ Community

Webinar

9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

In this course, participants will learn best practices related to working with individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. This includes proper terminology as well as recognizing and understanding community-specific traumas.

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