An app that allows parents to monitor their child’s texts, email, YouTube and 24+ social media platforms for signs of cyberbullying, suicidal thoughts, sexual predators, drug use and more. The app allows parents to manage screen time, block websites and apps, and track their child’s location. The app offers a free trial and starts at $14/month.
bark.us
The website provides great information on credit and debt, loans and mortgages, shopping and donating, online security, and avoiding scams. Go online to get a free credit report, report fraud or identity left, and sign up for consumer alerts. The Money Matters page is a one-stop guide on understanding your rights and avoiding scams from understanding your credit score to buying a used care and more. They also offer resources on online privacy and protecting kids online.
Main Website: consumer.ftc.gov
Money Matters: consumer.ftc.gov/features/money-matters-how-spot-avoid-and-report-scams#share
Provides education for teens and their safe adults on the characteristics of healthy relationships. Visit the website to find helpful information on teen dating topics like relationship myths, healthy boundaries, and digital rights. Anyone call call, text, or chat with the Green Flags Pro team with questions about relationship concerns Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Green Falgs Pro team are a specially trained team of experts to address teens’ questions or concerns about relationships and dating abuse. Green Flags also provides parents, guardians, educators and other trusted adults in the Central Ohio community resources to help support and talk to teens in their lives about healthy relationships and dating safety.
The Center for Family Safety and Healing: 655 East Livingston Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43205
Call: (844) 234-5463
Text: (844) 283-3393
greenflags.info
Find free, high-quality, educational videos on K-12+ topics by subject or by grade. Topics include math, science, computing, arts and humanities, economics and finance, music, philosophy, and more. The Life Skills section includes internet safety, social media literacy, personal finance, college admissions, and social-emotional learning. They also provide free test prep tools for AP tests, SAT, MCAT, and LSAT. Khan Academy Kids is a free educational app for kids ages 2-8 with fun games, videos, printables, and more. The Khan Academy website can be translated into many different languages. Teachers can sign up for additional resources.
The nation’s largest child protection organization with many programs and resources for exploited and vulnerable children and families:
Provides guidance from experts and researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Visit the website for helpful articles on a variety of safety topics including bicycle safety, burns, poison, driving, home safety, gun safety, sports, playgrounds, and more.
nationwidechildrens.org/injury-research-and-policy-injury-topics
A free, monthly e-newsletter written by pediatric specialists. Sign up to get expert insights on trending wellness topics straight to your inbox.
nationwidechildrens.org/e-newsletter-sign-up
This website from Nemours Children’s Health offers tons of important health information for kids, teens, and their parents. Kids can find fun videos on how the body works and approachable answers to questions like, how do casts work? The Teen website covers topics like depression, sexual health, smoking, coping with cliques, binge drinking, body image and much more. Parents can find medically-reviewed articles on how vaccines work, how to choose a car seat, developmental milestones, supporting kids’ emotional wellbeing, healthy eating, and more. Educators can also find free health-related lesson plans for PreK-12.
Kids: kidshealth.org/en/kids
Teens: kidshealth.org/en/teens
Parents: kidshealth.org/en/parents
Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) are networks of families and educators supporting children’s learning. The Ohio PTA offers annual $500 scholarships for high school seniors pursuing higher education at a college or university, a technical certification, or Special Education degree. Students must attend a school in a district with official PTA status to apply. The National PTA offer additional awards and programs. Their website has tons of helpful information for parents and educators on topics like special education, state assessments, college readiness, summer learning, safety, and more.
40 Northwoods Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio 43235
(614) 781-6344
Ohio PTA: ohiopta.org
National PTA: pta.org/home/family-resources
This website contains free resources on internet safety, cybersecurity, and fraud prevention from The Department of Homeland Security and other partners at the National Cybersecurity Alliance.
staysafeonline.org