SCS hosting educational workshop on online predators

Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Centers will present a free 1-hour educational workshop called “Online Predators: What Parents Need to Know,” on March 31 at the Shelbyville Middle School.

The event, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., is hosted in partnership with Crane Credit Union and is designed to help parents and caregivers better understand and respond to online threats facing children today.

The presentation is led by John Graham, Education and Outreach Program Manager for Susie’s Place. It will cover several current online threats, including commodified interactions targeting minors, AI deepfake and image manipulation abuse, sextortion and financial exploitation, online sadistic exploitation networks, and safety concerns within apps and gaming platforms.

Drawing from data provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and other national partners, the workshop explains how these threats operate, what warning signs families should watch for, and what proactive steps parents can take for their families.

“This isn’t about fear. It’s about equipping parents with knowledge, practical tools, conversation strategies, and a clear plan,” said Graham.

The free 1-hour session includes guidance on online threats, creating family technology agreements, conducting app safety checks, and implementing the Upstander approach, a strategy that encourages open conversations instead of confrontation. Participants are also provided with a multi-page resource packet filled with information and links so they can research further at home.

Susie’s Place Child Advocacy Center is a 501 (c)(3) organization founded in 2009 with locations in Avon, Bloomington, and Terre Haute, Indiana. Susie’s Place promotes the prevention, justice, and healing of child victims of abuse and violence while maintaining the comfort and safety of the child as the first priority.

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