(Atlantic, Iowa) [updated] – This week, Cass County Schools came together to reinforce the importance of online safety to their students in Atlantic, CAM and Griswold districts. In Atlantic, Schuler Elementary Principal James Northwick says “There’s not many days that go by that a teacher or parent doesn’t mention how much the kids are using their phones. We have to help students understand the responsibility they have when it comes to being safe online, so we don’t find ourselves down the road with scary outcomes because we didn’t teach them how to navigate this.”

Public health partners connected the three school districts with Hope for Justice, an anti-trafficking project leader, and Iowa Law Enforcement specialists to present age-appropriate content in each of the participating schools. Elementary students focused on online safety, recognizing safe relationships, managing peer pressure and understanding social media. Older students added how to recognize and report suspicious online activities and what human trafficking looks like in Iowa. CAM Principal Barry Bower said  “Staff members met before the presentations with the Hope for Justice team, and it was clear that each of us have seen scenarios in our schools that hit too close to home. “These preventative conversations we can have with students are the beginning, and we hope parents continue the conversation at home with boundaries around technology use.” (These photos are courtesy Cheri Chester, CAM Administrative Asst.)

In support of the programming, local representatives from Atlantic Police Department, Cass County Sheriff’s Office and Cass Health attended the presentations.  Atlantic Police Chief Devin Hogue said “We want students, parents and teachers to know they can call us anytime with suspicious behaviors, concerns or situations they don’t know how to navigate, and we will make sure they are connected to the right resources to help kids with the physical and mental side of handling these situations.”

Each School District is offering a parent resource list as well as follow up links to podcasts, tips and other helpful tools. Other resources are available via contacting the Healthy Cass County Coalition at 712-250-8170 or emailing Community Wellness Coordinator Grace McAfee at hcc@casshealth.info. James Northwick says “With more research all the time telling us the impact technology has on mental health and social behaviors. We are all treading on common ground. This is one small action we can take to start setting the tone for how we will help our students through it.”

Here are some photos from Atlantic CSD Communications Specialist Emma Langer:

And, these photos were submitted by Griswold K-12 Art Teacher/Yearbook Sponsor Tara Littler-Scholl: