FAQ on Faux Paw Program
Internet Keep Safe Coalition FAQ for the AMA Alliance
1. What is the Internet Keep Safe Coalition?
2. What is the mission?
The mission is to encourage safe technology use for children and to protect them from Internet predators and online dangers. By teaching safety guidelines, the AMA Alliance and the Coalition seek to reduce the number of Internet crimes against children and to promote healthy technology use in families.
3. Who is the target audience?
Children in grades 1-4. Why? Before children enter middle school, the age of greatest risk, they need to clearly understand important safety concepts. At this early target age children are highly receptive and can internalize the safety rules before they need them. Our goal is to prepare every child for an inevitable future exposure that could harm them. Our tag line rules, “Keep. Don’t meet. Tell.” will become to Internet safety what “Stop, Drop, and Roll” are to fire safety. The time to teach children about fire safety is before their clothing ignites. This also applies to Internet dangers: “Keep. Don’t meet. Tell” will prevent countless Internet crimes against children.
4. Why teach Internet safety?
Studies show:
• 96% of all youth access the Internet with 74% accessing from home.
• 66% of all youth use Instant Messaging.
• 6 in 10 children online receive email or Instant Message from strangers. More than half write back. (FBI)
• 29% of children freely give personal information online when asked.
• 1 in 5 youth receives an online sexual solicitation in a 1 year period.
• 1 in 4 children inadvertently views online pornography each year.
One Florida police department has been bombarded with online sexual predators. Undercover officer, Kathy Hollis, reported: "When I sign on as a 13-year-old, I get more than I can handle...You get so many instant messages that you can't even keep up with all of them."
5. Why is the AMAA involved with the Faux Paw program?
AMA past president, Dr. Nelson, introduced the Alliance to the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, because teaching healthy, safe Internet use is critical to protecting children from the growing risk of the physical, psychological and potentially lethal harm caused by Internet crime. Alliance members have the opportunity to help protect literally thousands of children across the country from this growing threat. The Alliance is in a position to make a visible contribution in their communities and align themselves with individual state policy makers. This is an ongoing SAVE Alliance program.
6. Background:
Early in this project we visited at length with a neuro psychologist who had treated over 500 incarcerated sex offenders. She explained to us—and it is difficult for healthy people to understand—that these criminals aren’t just victims of a momentary, errant sexual whim; predators view the entrapment and victimization of a child as a hunt and a game. They will spend a lot of time over many months to find and groom a child, slowly drawing out information that will reveal his/her location or coercing the child to meet somewhere.
We worked with three child psychiatrists to ensure the material was handled in an age-appropriate manner. The material was reviewed by Dr. Rich from the Harvard Medical School and founder and director of the Center for Media and Child Health. The safety rules were created with input from the FBI, The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Internet Crimes Against Children’s Taskforce and the National Crime Prevention Council.
7. How will the Internet safety message reach children?
AMAA volunteers will present the Faux Paw assembly in schools, community centers, libraries and health care facilities. The Alliance trainers are authorized to train other community volunteers such as the PTA.
8. How do I get started?
Obtain the training packet from AMAA headquarters. It includes all of the material needed to present and promote the Faux Paw assembly.
9. What is included?
The assembly itself, including: the book, Faux Paw the Techno Cat: Adventures in the Internet, in PowerPoint Presentation form, the animated movie, and the assembly script. The packet also includes resources for presenters: presenter instructions, template letters, invitations, advertisements, PSAs, media kit, a bookmark, brochure and other training material.
10. Whom should we approach to present this program?
The presentation may be offered in many venues: public libraries, children’s hospitals, WIC centers, etc. But, we recommend schools as a primary target. The best way to get into schools is to contact the school principal and media specialist (template letters included). The principal can authorize the Faux Paw assembly; the media specialist is in a position to use the Faux Paw material and encourage the principal to schedule an assembly. For example, in Maryland, the Baltimore County Media Director hosted a county wide Internet safety initiative. Faux Paw the Techno Cat was read to every class in over 100 Baltimore County elementary schools.
11. How long does the program take to present?
Approximately 35- 40 minutes
12. How do we promote this program in communities/schools?
Training materials include detailed instructions for promoting your local Alliance and this safety initiative. Also included is a media kit complete with a template media advisory, press release, radio PSA, tips for working with the media, and instructions for how to publicize an event.
13. How do we get information to parents/caregivers?
Template letters to parents are included along with other promotional ideas such as bookmarks, buttons, posters and brochures will be available on the AMAA Web site. Also, health care facilities create an ideal setting for parents to learn about Faux Paw’s Internet safety rules.
14. What is the cost of doing this program?
Training material is $15.00 plus shipping and handling. Much of the material may be downloaded from www.iKeepSafe.org at no cost, but it requires some technical knowledge and high-speed Internet access. Support material such as bookmarks, posters, and brochures may be purchased, as needed, from the AMAA Bookstore. The Faux Paw mascot costume (optional) is available for purchase through Robotronics.com
15. How can we leave a gift book with the schools?
Books may be customized and given to schools, health care facilities, and libraries. We recommend the library-bound, hardcover edition ($19.95). A personalized note may be printed on the title page if you desire: this customization is automated through the website. Posters, book marks, and buttons are also available.
16. What other marketing efforts are being made?
a. Media events will be hosted by the coalition for governors and first spouses. Alliance members are welcome to participate and be recognized.
b. The coalition will launch a customized viral email advertisement through coalition members such as: Disney Online, Dell, AOL, NEA, PTA, etc. that will promote Faux Paw the Techno Cat and the school assembly.
c. Faux Paw will be presented and promoted at the Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools convention August 15, 2005.
d. State presidents will be provided with a template article for their state newsletters.
e. The coalition gives regular media interviews, locally and nationally
f. PSA campaigns will be launched
g. Coalition members launch their own individual promotional activities (National PTA, NEA, Dell…etc.)
17. Is there any follow up?
Yes, the presenter instructions include evaluation forms and procedures that will allow the Alliance to track the reach of Alliance volunteers as they present in schools across the country. An annual report will list the numbers of schools and children taught. Support material will be sent to school for teachers to use throughout the year.