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Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) Policy

Last Updated: October 16, 2025

CareerStarter and NCCER are committed to creating a safe, respectful, and secure environment for all users, especially minors and vulnerable individuals. This policy outlines our zero-tolerance approach to child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE) and establishes procedures for prevention, detection, reporting, and response.

Scope

This policy applies to:

  • All users of the CareerStarter platform, including students, employers, training providers, and staff.

  • All content, communications, and interactions occurring on or through CareerStarter’s website, mobile applications, and affiliated services.

Definitions

  • Child: Any individual under the age of 18.

  • Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE): Any form of sexual activity with a child, including grooming, sharing or accessing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), and any exploitative behavior involving minors.

  • Grooming: Actions taken to build trust with a child or their family to facilitate CSAE.

Policy Statement

CareerStarter strictly prohibits:

  • Any form of CSAE, including grooming, solicitation, or sharing of CSAM.

  • Use of the platform to contact, exploit, or harm minors.

  • Uploading, sharing, or linking to any content that depicts or promotes CSAE.

Safeguarding Measures

CareerStarter will implement the following safeguards:

  • Content Moderation: Automated and manual review of user-generated content to detect and remove harmful material.

  • Reporting Mechanism: Easy-to-use tools for users to report suspicious or harmful behavior.

  • Staff Training: All CareerStarter staff will receive training on CSAE awareness, detection, and response protocols.

Reporting and Response

  • Reporting CSAE: Users and staff must report any suspected CSAE immediately via the platform’s reporting tools or by contacting support@nccer.org.

  • Response Protocol: 

  • Immediate suspension of accounts involved in CSAE.

  • Preservation of evidence for law enforcement.

  • Notification to appropriate authorities, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and local law enforcement.

  • Support for affected individuals, including referrals to counseling and victim support services.

Legal Compliance

CareerStarter complies with all applicable laws and regulations, including:

  • U.S. federal and state laws on child protection.

  • The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

  • Mandatory reporting obligations.

Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed annually and updated as needed to reflect changes in law, technology, and best practices. Feedback from users and stakeholders is encouraged to improve safeguarding efforts.

Contact

For questions or concerns about this policy, please contact the CareerStarter team at NCCER via email or phone.

Email: support@nccer.org Phone: (888) 622-3720