The Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) is announcing the release and availability of an instructional video designed to teach families how to protect their children from online predators.
"Keeping Kids Cyber Safe: A Family's Guide to Internet Protection" was produced by SCOE in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of California, the FBI, the Sacramento Valley High Tech Crimes Task Force and the Elk Grove Unified School District.
"The Internet is an extraordinary educational resource, but unfortunately many predators lurk online," said County Superintendent of Schools David W. Gordon. "This video shows parents what dangers to look for and how to protect their children."
On February 20, 2007, Sacramento-based U.S. Attorney McGregor Scott hosted a community forum at Sheldon High School, in the Elk Grove Unified School District. The forum featured experts on Internet safety, including Katie Canton, who shares her experiences of being victimized by an online predator. She now devotes much of her time to speaking to groups about the dangers of the Internet.
"We must do all we can to equip our parents, teachers, and children with steps they can take to protect against online predators," said U.S. Attorney Scott. "This professional video should be of great assistance in this important endeavor."
The one-hour program offers important safety tips for parents and kids who are exploring the virtual world of the Internet. It is designed to educate parents about the potential danger to their children from sexual predators on the Internet.
The video program is available online (run time approximately 59 minutes) and is being made available at no cost to schools, libraries, and community groups. Those interested in obtaining a DVD copy of the program should contact Assistant U.S. Attorney Laurel White at (916) 554-2780.