Keep your children safe online with these resources highlighted at our Courageous Conversations town hall

Parents, caregivers and child safety experts across Douglas County gathered Wednesday, March 25, for a critical conversation about protecting children in an increasingly complex digital world

During the “Courageous Conversations: Our Children and the Internet” live town hall—hosted by the Douglas County Board of Commissioners—local law enforcement, educators, prosecutors and nonprofit leaders shared what they are seeing on the front lines, and what families can do about it. One of the strongest themes of the evening was that protecting children online requires a shared effort between parents, schools, law enforcement and the broader community.

Panelists stressed that many cases begin with small, seemingly harmless interactions online, but can escalate quickly without awareness and intervention. At the same time, they reassured families that resources, support systems and trained professionals are in place across Douglas County to respond when needed.

Watch the full recording on our YouTube channel.

Practical Steps Parents Can Take Today

Throughout the conversation, panelists returned to a consistent message: prevention starts at home.

Stay Involved in Your Child’s Digital Life

Know what apps your children are using
Have access to devices and passwords
Check in regularly, not just when there’s a problem

“Be inside your kids’ phones, tablets, computers, be very involved in any electronic device and know what they’re doing online,” advised Detective Kate Morrissey of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Set Clear Boundaries and Expectations Early

The panelists advised parents to use these suggestions to help their children stay safe and develop healthy habits with their technology:

Keep devices out of bedrooms at night, especially anything that connects to the internet
Keep phones out of private spaces like bathrooms
Set clear rules about social media use including not allowing them on certain platforms
Create a “family technology agreement” to help avoid confusion and conflict later

Build Trust, Not Fear

Experts emphasized that children often don’t report problems because they fear punishment. Kids are far more likely to seek help when they know they won’t be met with anger or shame. To help build trust, parents should:

Respond calmly when issues arise
Lead with curiosity
Reinforce that children won’t lose access or get in trouble for speaking up
Create a home environment where kids feel safe sharing mistakes

“The number one thing that I would say is be curious. The first thing kids think if they go to a parent and they’re questioning and anxious about something is that they’re going to get their technology taken away. So, we as parents and as staff need to be curious and ask more questions,” advised Dr. Kelli Smith, Director of Health, Wellness and Prevention at Douglas County School District.

Teach Critical Digital Habits

Simple but powerful rules can help prevent many risks:

Don’t accept friend requests or respond to direct messages (DMs) from strangers
Never share personal or private images/videos
Understand that anything shared online can be permanent
Understand that even trusted relationships can lead to harm if content is shared beyond its original intent

“The other big thing I would have parents preach to your kids is don’t add strangers on social media. The vast majority of my cases that involve internet luring are when strangers add children on Snapchat or Facebook or any social media platform. So, encourage your kids to only add people they know,” advised Abby Hegarty, Senior Deputy District Attorney.

Watch for Warning Signs

Panelists highlighted early indicators of trouble that may signal unhealthy relationships with technology or risky digital behavior.

Extreme emotional reactions when devices are removed or restricted
Secretive behavior online
Withdrawal from their normal activities
Inability to complete basic tasks without devices

Resources for Families

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC)
- Families can report concerns through the CyberTipline and access guidance on responding to online exploitation.
NetSmartzKids (by NCMEC)
- A free online resource offering age-appropriate videos and games to help kids learn about online safety and digital behavior.
Safe2Tell Colorado
- An anonymous reporting tool widely used by students and community members to report concerning behavior or threats.
Parental monitoring apps (e.g., Bark)
- These tools can flag concerning content, such as keywords related to bullying, exploitation or self-harm, without requiring parents to read every message.
- Monitoring doesn’t have to mean constant surveillance—it can be targeted and intentional.
School-based resources
- Counselors, nurses and mental health teams are trained to support students experiencing online harm and can connect families to services.
- Help your children identify the trusted adults they can turn to if a situation arises.
Local law enforcement and victim advocates
- Law enforcement agencies offer victim assistance programs to guide families through reporting and recovery if a crime has been committed.
- Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Victim Assistance Unit
Mental health resources
- Immediate, confidential support is available for youth experiencing distress or crisis.
- Douglas County Mental Health Initiative
- National mental health hotline: call or text 988

The March 25 live town hall was the first in a new “Courageous Conversations” series aimed at tackling complex issues facing the community. For families, the takeaway was clear: while the online world presents real risks, there are also clear, practical steps—and strong local resources—that can help keep children safe.

Join us on Wednesday, May 20, for our next “Courageous Conversation” live town hall about preparing your home and family for wildfires, the number 1 natural threat in Douglas County.

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