Current Faux Paw Projects and Updates on Behalf of Local Alliances
Faux Paw implementation in states in very much alive and well. Many state and county Alliances across the county are working to keep Internet Safety a priority in children's lives.
Nebraska--Sharon Chatwell was most active as Health Promotions (HP) chair last year and has been able to obtain an endorsement for the Faux Paw program from the State School Board Association. They are making packets to send out to the different school boards with information on Faux Paw and the Screen Out! information. One of their state Alliance officers is a member of her local school board and has been most helpful.
Nevada--Karen Schroeder, AMA Alliance HP Committee member, recently sent a letter about the implementation of Faux Paw in the largest school system in Nevada. They had a big event with Symantec and Miss America on October 3, 2007, and invited their Nevada First Lady.
If you want to share your Faux Paw project with the rest of the Alliance, send your details to amaa@ama-assn.org.
Alliance Recognized for Faux Paw Efforts
BALTIMORE - Oct. 29, 2007 - Symantec (Nasdaq: SYMC) and the Internet Keep Safe Coalition (www.iKeepSafe.org) today honored Attorney General Douglas Gansler with the Internet Keep Safe Award during a Norton Connected & Protected Kids' Assembly to address the role of technology in students' lives. The Internet safety assembly was hosted by Symantec Internet Safety Advocate Marian Merritt and attended by more than 100 students, parents and teachers of Dr. Nathan A. Pitts Ashburton Elementary/Middle School. During the assembly, Symantec awarded a $5,000 grant to the Alliance to MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society for their role in bringing the popular "Faux Paw the Techno Cat" Internet safety program to Maryland grade schools. The Alliance to MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society is part of the American Medical Association (AMA) Alliance, a national public health advocacy network dedicated to building healthy communities.
The Faux Paw Internet safety curriculum was developed by Penn State Dept. of Education, D.A.R.E., and iKeepSafe and was sponsored by Symantec. Consisting of children's books and animated DVDs, the program was created specifically for elementary school children and follows the adventures of Faux Paw the Techno Cat, a curious, Web-surfing cat who teaches kids how to keep safe online. Online tutorials for teachers and parents covering topics such as social networking, cyberbullying and general tips about how to keep kids safe online are also available as part of the curriculum from iKeepSafe and Symantec. The Faux Paw Internet safety program will rollout in Maryland schools starting next year.
"Attorney General Gansler's efforts, along with the school programs implemented by the Alliance to MedChi, the Maryland State Medical Society, are critical to keeping children safe online," said Marian Merritt, Internet Safety Advocate with Symantec. "Symantec is thrilled to partner with the iKeepSafe to support the efforts of these organizations."
