Cyber-Safe is a new
program launching in Marion County to address the
escalating issue of Internet safety. This program is
a partnership between Big Brothers/Big Sisters of
Marion County, the Marion County Sheriff’s office,
and Marion County Children’s Services.
This program is a Marion County approach to address
the latest national statistics reflecting the
following startling results:
- 30 million
children between the ages of 10 and 17 use the
Internet, each year.
- 1 in 4
children will be exposed to explicit, sexual
pictures on the Internet.
- 1 in 5
children will be sexually solicited on the
Internet
- 1 in 33
children will be aggressively pursued due to
contact made while on-line.
This new,
comprehensive program will launch to the public in
January 2007, and integrate in the Marion City and
County school districts, as well as provide seminars
and classes for any adult. The entire program will
be at no cost to any family.
The curriculum of
this research-based project will offer education in
multi-levels of education based upon the age of the
participant. The levels offered are kindergarten
through adult.
In this project,
Big Brothers/Big Sisters is the educational
component of the Cyber-Safe Program, the Marion
County Sheriff’s office oversees the law enforcement
issues, and Marion County Children’s Services is the
family support and victim assistance unit.
This project
teaches safety tips, identification of issues on the
Internet, as well as discussion on television and
other media sources. Classes and seminars will be
taught by Cyber-Safe Certified Trainers that have
completed the required course and test to become a
certified trainer. |
