EGADZ relaunches app to help youth report sexual exploitation, get help – Saskatoon
EGADZ has relaunched an app that may assist Saskatoon youth discreetly report sexual exploitation or different points.
EGADZ gives applications and companies to kids, youth and their households via road outreach, housing, training and employment assist and parenting programming.
About half a yr within the making, the I’m Not 4 Sale app options numerous different instruments comparable to a web-based chat perform that may put customers in contact with EGADZ counselors 24-7.
Learn extra:
Ordinary runaways account for practically 75% of all lacking particular person instances in Saskatoon
The app is out there for people of any age or gender to make use of.
By means of the app, customers can discreetly and anonymously have instant emergency companies despatched to their location.
The app additionally permits customers to see the place EGADZ Avenue Outreach vans are inside the metropolis.
Chad Jones, founder and CEO of Push Interactions supplied a dwell demo of the app on Friday.
The app instructs customers to name 911 if they’re in a direct emergency state of affairs.
The brand new characteristic permits customers to pick out ‘Assist me now’ which is able to share their location with employees. A chat window may also pop up, permitting customers to speak their state of affairs with the employees member.
From there, employees will rapidly assess the state of affairs and supply assist based mostly on the distinctive state of affairs.
If a person is unable to reply to the chat and is in want of “instant” and “intense” assist, the app will share their location with the police.
Customers give their consent to share their location upon first opening the app and once more as soon as they activate the ‘assist me now’ characteristic.
Learn extra:
Saskatoon police cost member of religion group with sexual exploitation
One other characteristic of the app will simulate a telephone ring tone when pressed, a tactic some folks use when strolling alone.
The app was redeveloped with provincial authorities funding of round $50,000. Youth helped with the design of the app comparable to selecting the colors.
Saskatoon Riversdale MLA Marv Friesen was on the app launch information convention on Friday and mentioned the instrument will result in extra security and safety for younger folks in Saskatchewan.
“EDAGZ has at all times positioned the give attention to listening to younger individuals who they work for — creating applications (and) companies based mostly on their concepts, experiences and knowledge,” Friesen mentioned.
Saskatoon Police Supt. Patrick Nogier additionally praised the efforts of these concerned with the app creation for preserving the group protected.
“We notice that there needs to be a nexus between the group and our police service and typically you want folks that may join with folks on the road to ensure that we bridge that hole,” Nogier mentioned.
Nogier added that this app pushes the police service in that path.
“It supplies us with a platform that we are able to facilitate a very good communication circulation to try to maintain these which are accountable and produce them to justice,” Nogier mentioned.
EGADZ govt director Don Meikle mentioned the group’s Sexual Exploitation Intervention Committee has began assembly month-to-month once more.
“We have already got recognized over six youngsters underneath the age of 18 which are understanding on the road (and) which are needing our companies,” Meikle mentioned.
Meilke added with instruments like social media, youth are being sexually exploited with out anybody figuring out about it.
Learn extra:
Girl dealing with expenses following vice and human trafficking investigation: Saskatoon police
“They’re form of just like the hidden youngsters,” he mentioned.
Meilke mentioned the I Am Not 4 Sale app will assist EGADZ and different businesses establish these youngsters and ensure helps are in place for them.
