It’s not easy protecting our most vulnerable population, but there are resources available in this region to help.
East Tennessee State University will host a free child safety event for the community on Thursday, April 23, from 6-8 p.m. in the Brinkley Center ballroom.
The event aims to bring the community together to meet professionals working to protect children from crime and to help families better understand what steps are taken if a child is ever in danger.
“ETSU is positioning itself as the center of a large first-responder cooperative where people can access resources and share information as these opportunities continue to grow,” said Dr. Michael Lehrfeld, associate professor in the Department of Computing and director of the Cybersecurity Innovation and Outreach Center. “The idea is to give back to the community and raise awareness of the resources available.”
Born from a monthly working group of law enforcement professionals who meet at ETSU to discuss the evolving landscape of online child safety, the event will bring experts together to share information about resources available in the region.
The Department of Computing, within the College of Business and Technology, acts as the region’s premier cybersecurity training institute not only for students, but also for businesses and research centers. As a recently recognized National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense, the department is committed to sharing cybersecurity knowledge beyond the classroom.
“The idea is that the NSA (National Security Agency) wants us to get out of the classroom and help push cybersecurity literacy to the community,” said Lehrfeld. “There’s a lot more in the works that will be coming down the line, which is fantastic.”
Event Details
At the child safety event, attendees can expect:
- Presentations by child crime experts
- A panel discussion and open mic session to answer important questions
- Private rooms for attendees with sensitive concerns
Registration is not required, and the event is open to the public.
