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Press
Release
COLLIER COUNTY ANNOUNCES A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO HELP PROTECT
CHILDREN FROM ONLINE VICTIMIZATION
NetSmartz Workshop Will Provide Internet Safety Education to All Students
in County
NAPLES, FL, August 16, 2005 – Approximately one
in five children online is sexually solicited according to a study by
the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC).
With that in mind Collier County has established an Internet Safety Consortium
made up of school, government, law-enforcement, and private organizations
coming together to help roll out a county-wide Internet safety program
called the NetSmartz WorkshopTM.
With the growing number of children utilizing the Internet, NCMEC
has partnered with local officials in the interest of protecting children
and teens from online victimization.
"Beginning this school year, the NetSmartz Workshop will be integrated
into the educational environment of Collier County," said Collier
County Public Schools Superintendent Raymond J. Baker. "It is our
goal to educate students about Internet safety, while also making their
parents and guardians aware of the potential dangers."
The NetSmartz Workshop (www.NetSmartz.org)
is a free interactive, educational safety resource from NCMEC and Boys
& Girls Clubs of America. Created for children (ages 5-17), parents,
guardians, educators, and law-enforcement, NetSmartz uses age-appropriate
games and activities to teach children how to stay safer on the Internet.
“We believe that the Internet holds tremendous potential for our
nation’s youth,” said Ernie Allen, president and CEO of NCMEC.
“Therefore, we are thrilled to bring NetSmartz to all students and
families of Collier County so that we can help make every child's Internet
experience a safer one.”
NetSmartz will be rolled out to students via educators and law enforcement.
NetSmartz’ age-appropriate activities will be installed on school
computers and many of the teachers have already been trained on the program.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office has trained and equipped law-
enforcement officers with NetSmartz Internet Safety Presentations created
by the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program in partnership
with NetSmartz. These age-appropriate presentations for grades K-12, and
parents/guardians are 30-minutes in length and can be used by School-Resource
Officers and local law-enforcement.
“While we enjoy the convenience of advancing technology, we unfortunately
must face new challenges as predators exploit that technology to victimize
our children. As your Sheriff, and more importantly a father, I am excited
to be a part of this new community partnership,” said Collier County
Sheriff Don Hunter. “The prevention and investigation of Internet
crimes against children is a priority of the Collier County Sheriff’s
Office and NetSmartz will provide us with valuable tools to thwart this
alarming trend.”
(more)
NetSmartz is designed to entertain children while educating them about
Internet safety; and teaches children three important rules for online
safety.
• I will tell an adult I trust if anything makes me feel scared,
uncomfortable, or confused.
• I will ask my parents or guardian before sharing my personal information.
• I won't meet in person with anyone I have first "met"
online.
“As the parent of a two-year-old boy growing up in an age of technology,
his safety and the safety of all children is a high priority for me, as
it should be for all parents,” said Collier County Commissioner
Tom Henning. “Collier County’s Parks and Recreation Department
will help maintain a consistent Internet safety message to children by
talking about NetSmartz to kids during its summer, holiday and after school
camps. Every member of the consortium will play a critical role in branding
NetSmartz as ‘the’ Internet safety message.”
The Naples Police & Emergency Services Department Detective Bureau
has gathered information and been trained in NetSmartz as well as the
Parks and Recreation Department.
“Educating both parents and children is the best way to protect
our children from Internet predators,” said Mayor Bill Barnett.
“The City of Naples is committed to the goal of keeping our children
safer, and NetSmartz is just one of our critical tools to use in reaching
that goal.”
Parents and guardians can also take an active role in protecting their
children and teens online by visiting www.NetSmartz.org
and downloading Internet safety pledges, tips, and news articles.
CONTACT:
Joe Landon
Collier County Public Schools
239-377-0180
Camden Smith
Collier County Government
Public Services Division
239-250-8760
Kristin Adams
Collier County Sheriff’s Office
239-793-9145
Communications Department
NCMEC
703-837-6111
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