Internet safety for parents to be held
at the Randolph Academy
Michelle Schaffer, right, family resource/intake coordinator at New Directions Youth and Family Services, discusses Internet safety with Angie Ritchie of Olean and her son, Thanen. Parents can learn how to keep their children safe when using the Internet and other technology at an event June 26 sponsored by New Directions and held at the Randolph Academy.
Adults can learn Internet and technology safety for children at an event sponsored by New Directions Youth and Family Services on Thursday, June 26, in the multi-purpose room at the Randolph Academy, 336 Main St, Randolph.
There will be two separate sessions. One for local professionals only will run from 1-4 p.m., and a separate session for concerned parents and community members will run from 6-9 pm. Both sessions will be free and refreshments will be served.
The evening session for parents will be presented by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Presentations will focus on how to prevent child exploitation by teaching adults about Internet and technology safety for children, and how parents and other adults can report child exploitation.
The presentation will also introduce attendees to netsmartz.com, a Web site that uses games, activities, and music to teach children about Internet safety in a fun, interactive way.
“The way society is going, kids are gaining more and more access to questionable material on the Internet,” said Michelle Shaffer, family resource/intake coordinator at New Directions. “It is our responsibility as parents to sit our children down and teach them how to practice safe use of the Internet.”
The afternoon session for professionals only will be presented by the United States Attorney’s Office and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Presentations will focus on the federal child exploitation laws and how state and local agencies can work together in the investigation and prosecution of child exploitation. There will also be a presentation on the resources available to assist professionals in combating child exploitation.
To register, please contact Michelle Shaffer, family resource/intake coordinator at New Directions, at 358-3636, ext. 232.
June 23, 2008