Behavioral, Mental Health, and Social Emotional Learning » Cyber Safety

Cyber Safety

Today's school-aged youth must navigate a dynamic and ever-evolving digital and social media landscape that profoundly shapes their communication, learning, and social opportunities. In many regards, technology offers significant benefits to our youth such as access to vast educational resources, opportunities for creativity, and tools for meaningful local, regional and global connections. Also, we know that digital and technology-related skills are in growing demand in current and emerging careers in nearly every sector of the economy. The cyber-world is not only here to stay, it is THE frontier that today’s children will explore, define and develop in ways we can only imagine. 

However, the cyber world also exposes youth to risks that adults never could have imagined: cyberbullying, online solicitation and exploitation, misinformation, risks of overuse, and more. To foster a balanced relationship with technology, families and schools must continue to play a role in cultivating digital citizenship at home and in the classroom. To do so, we can work together to consider when and how to introduce technology to children, to teach children to use technology responsibly, develop the skills to critically evaluate content, and build awareness so that we can protect children’s well-being online. With strong school-family-community partnerships, we can all embrace the positive aspects of technology, manage its potential hazards, and help cultivate the skills needed to thrive in the digital age and beyond.

With input from our valued community partners and local law enforcement, below are some recommended resources for families:

  • CommonSense.org. This web resource emphasizes Digital Citizenship with resources that include addressing top concerns of schools, preparing students with critical 21st-century skills, supporting educators with training and recognition, and ways to engage the whole community through family outreach.
  • SchoolSafety.Gov. A collection of online resources for families to learn about digital safety.  fdfor families 
  • Family Online Safety Institute: The Family Online Safety Institute is an international, non-profit organization that works to make the online world safer for kids and their families.
  • Office of Children and Family Services: Provides parents and caring adults (including mentors, coaches, staff of youth programs, and many others), information about how they can play a role in helping young people navigate the Internet and social media safely. Tools include having open conversations, setting boundaries, and utilizing parental controls.
  • Netsmartz.com. Since 1998, NCMEC has operated the CyberTipline, a place where the public and electronic service providers can report suspected online and offline child sexual exploitation. NetSmartz is NCMEC's online safety education program, providing age-appropriate videos and activities to help teach children be safer online with the goal of helping children to become more aware of potential online risks and empowering them to help prevent victimization by making safer choices on- and offline. 

 

  • Thorn. A web safety resource that, among other things, works to educate families and children to help protect youth from sextortion.

 

Community partners:

 

SASO of Durango provides a number of services including community trainings on the topics of cyber safety, healthy relationships, consent, bystander intervention, sextortion, and more to a variety of audiences and ages.  In addition, they provide: 

 

  • 24/7 support line; Sexual Assault Services Organization, www.durangosaso.org; 970-247-5400
  • Individual advocacy in navigating medical support,  law enforcement reporting, court advocacy, etc.
  • Culturally specific advocacy and support
  • Resource and therapy referrals
  • Support groups for adults
  • Assistance completing victim compensation paperwork- survivors may be eligible for up to $20,000 in funding for ongoing therapy and other expenses related to crime.  More information can be found at https://dcj.colorado.gov/how-to-file-a-claim-for-victim-compensation

 

SASO supports and promotes culturally specific resources for victims of sexual abuse or exploitation including: