Blog
ASCI’s Commitment to the Safety, Well-Being, and Success of Every Child in Our Care
Dear Valued Kinship Caregiver,
We are reaching out to you today on a matter of great urgency — the safety and well-being of the children in your care. As kinship caregivers, you are among the most important people in these children’s lives. A Second Chance, Inc. stands with you in our shared commitment to protecting, nurturing, and empowering every child we serve.
We must bring to your immediate attention a growing and serious concern: the proliferation of harmful TikTok Challenges that are placing children and adolescents at significant risk of physical harm, emotional trauma, and even death. These viral challenges have caused injuries and fatalities across the globe, and our children are not immune.
What Are TikTok Challenges?
TikTok challenges are viral trends that encourage users — many of them children — to film and share videos of themselves performing specific actions or stunts. While some are harmless or even fun, many have proven to be extremely dangerous. Examples of harmful challenges that have resulted in injury or death include:
- The Blackout Challenge — which encourages participants to choke themselves until they lose consciousness
- The Benadryl Challenge — which encourages children to consume dangerous amounts of antihistamine medication
- The NyQuil Chicken Challenge — which involves cooking chicken in cold medicine
- The Fire Challenge — which involves setting oneself or objects on fire
- Various “Stealth” challenges encouraging dangerous behavior without adult detection
These are not isolated incidents. Families across North America, Europe, and beyond have tragically lost children to these trends.
What We Are Asking You to Do
As a kinship caregiver, you are on the front lines of this child’s protection. We urge you to take the following steps immediately:
- Monitor screen time and app usage. Know which apps your child is using. TikTok is widely accessible on smartphones, tablets, and computers. Ask to see the child’s account and what content they are consuming.
- Have open, ongoing conversations. Talk with the children in your care about online dangers. Let them know they can come to you without fear of punishment if they see or are pressured to participate in something unsafe.
- Set clear household rules about social media. Establish age-appropriate boundaries around when and how children use social media platforms. Use parental controls and privacy settings where possible.
- Know the warning signs. Unusual injuries, secretive behavior around devices, sudden changes in mood or peer groups, and an excessive focus on social media “likes” or “followers” can all be signs that a child may be engaging in risky online behavior.
- Report concerns immediately. If you believe a child in your care has been exposed to or is participating in a dangerous challenge, please contact your A Second Chance, Inc. case manager right away. We are here to support you.
Resources Available to You
A Second Chance, Inc. is committed to equipping you with the tools and knowledge you need. Please reach out to your assigned case manager to:
- Request a one-on-one consultation on digital safety strategies
- Access educational materials on internet safety for children of all ages
- Connect with child safety workshops and training opportunities
- Receive referrals to mental health or counseling services if a child has already been exposed to harmful content
We know that you are doing an extraordinary job under often challenging circumstances. Your love and commitment to the children you care for make a profound difference every single day. This letter is not meant to alarm you, but to ensure you have the information you need to keep your children safe in an increasingly complex digital world.
Together, we can protect the children who depend on us. Thank you for everything you do.
With gratitude and partnership,
Dr. Sharon McDaniel, PhD, EdD, MPA
Chief Executive Officer
A Second Chance, Inc.
www.asecondchance-kinship.com