Introducing Depart Smart™ dba ClearCause Foundation

A travel or study-abroad trip can be the highlight of a person’s life. International travel carries inherent dangers and risks – especially for American youth and students abroad because no United States federal protections or guidelines exist in the travel and tourism/study abroad industry.    (The Forum on Education Abroad cited a statistic that placed studying abroad deaths higher than traffic accidents.)

ClearCause rebranded as Depart Smart in 2016 when students appealed to us to go broader and serve a larger population because their parents needed to know how to travel safer, also.

We invite you to take the Travel Safety Savvy Quiz and test your skills to travel safely.  If you fail the challenge, please take the Depart Smart Travel HEROES Safety Course to develop a safety plan and learn skills to Depart Smart and a Travel Safety Certification.

If your travel abroad goes wrong, will you know what to do?

Avoid risks and enjoy worry-free global adventures with a customized Travel Safety Plan. Protect yourself and the ones you love.

The online travel safety course is comprised of six 10-15 minute teaching modules, complete with mini-games, testimonials, and an end-of-chapter assessment. As the learners complete each chapter, they progressively compile a travel safety plan to guide them through the steps they should take for safer international travels. The six modules are:

• Geopolitical Context: Learn how to navigate State Department Consular Affairs and Overseas Security Advisory Council websites to identify country-specific warnings and alerts and ascertain their severity.

• Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP): Learn the value of STEP services and how to successfully register for STEP before each international trip.

• Health & Wellness: Discover resources at the Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization to identify destination-specific health risks and preventive medicines to include in your plan, and vital personal medical information in mobile applications.

• Geography & Housing: Build a Google My Map of your destination(s), featuring area-specific risks and warnings. Locate nearby hospitals, fire and police departments, embassies, airports and evacuation services, and your housing and transportation resources.

• Travel Insurance: Learn the difference between trip and travel insurance, and how to determine the best insurance for your particular excursion.

• Security & Communications: Increase your financial security with helpful tips and prepare to use mobile technology to contact local and international agencies and emergency contacts.

World travel provides experiences and education no classroom can provide. But, in these uncertain times, preparing wisely can be lifesaving. Make sure your family’s trip overseas is one you’ll want to remember.