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The Internet Keep Safe
Coalition and Faux Paw
the Techno Cat
We live in a time where
we must safeguard our
children from designing
influences. As
the Internet ever
increases as a wondrous
wealth of knowledge for
our children, we as
parents and educators
must ever increase our
capacity to keep our
children from those
things that would do
them harm.
In an effort to help
increase awareness and
educate parents and
children of Alabama
about Internet safety I
have joined the Internet
Keep Safe Coalition
group who teaches
basic rules of Internet
safety to children and
parents, reaching them
online and in
schools. Governors
and/or first spouses
formed this coalition in
partnership with a
growing list of crime
prevention
organizations, law
enforcement agencies,
foundations
and corporate sponsors
and I am pleased to be
part of such an
important project.
The Internet is a
powerful tool. As with
any tool, we must
instruct our children on
how to
use it safely. A recent
study by the University
of New Hampshire showed
that one in five young
people using the
Internet received an
online sexual
solicitation in a
one-year
period. In an alarming
15% of those cases, the
solicitor attempted to
meet the child in
person.
To report a problem
anytime, call
1-800-843-5678. This
will connect you to the
National
Center for Missing and
Exploited Children. Or
you can visit the
Center's website at
www.missingkids.com.
The iKeepSafe.org
website uses an animated
mascot named Faux Paw
the Techno Cat
to teach children the
importance of protecting
personal information and
avoiding
inappropriate places on
the Internet.
The iKeepSafe.org
website teaches children
to safely navigate the
Internet through a
virtual playground, Faux
Paw's adventures in
storybooks, an animated
video download,
and educational games.
Educational materials,
including worksheets and
tests, are also
available for parents
and educators.
To learn more about The
Internet Keep Safe
Coalition please visit
their website at
www.ikeepsafe.org.
Thank you for your
commitment to our shared
priority of protecting
the children of
Alabama.
Sincerely,
Patsy Riley
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