Children's Cove reports rise in online exploitation referrals; expands school outreach

Jacob Stapleton, community engagement and education program manager at Children's Cove, told the Barnstable County Assembly of Delegates on Oct. 1 that the region continues to see an increase in referrals for child sexual exploitation and online-facilitated crimes.

Stapleton told delegates the regional total — Bristol, Plymouth and Cape & Islands combined — was 533 referrals affecting 471 children in the most recent year. He said 57 of those involved children age 12 or younger and that about 75% were aged 13 to 17. Stapleton said 18% of identified victims were male, 80% identified as female and about 2% identified as transgender, and noted male victims historically underreport. The Children's Cove report was submitted to the assembly in August and is available at childrenscove.org, he said.

Children's Cove provides a coordinated, multidisciplinary response to crimes against children in the Cape and Islands district, Stapleton said. The center conducts forensic interviews, coordinates medical and mental-health…