159623 Developing and implementing a statewide policy for schools on cyberthreats

Wednesday, November 7, 2007: 9:15 AM

Mary Grenz Jalloh, MPH, MS , New York State Center for School Safety, New Paltz, NY
Elizabeth Mastro, MPH , New York State Center for School Safety, New Paltz, NY
Joakim Lartey, BS , New York State Center for School Safety, New Paltz, NY
Maureen Cahill, MEd , Instructional Services, Southern Westchester BOCES, Mahopac, NY
Cyber-related threats have become an increasingly common occurrence in schools. Techno-savvy adolescents utilize the internet and other media to reach out to form virtual communities. Along with this has come new ways to threaten, bully, and exploit individuals. Examples of threats by text messaging, videos of student fights available globally on YouTube, and MySpace pages with threats, rumors or other methods of intimidation have all made national news. Working with the CDC-funded PREVENT Institute at the University of North Carolina (UNC Injury Prevention Research Center), The New York State Center for School Safety (NYSCSS) spearheaded a state project to establish policy for schools on cyber-related threats, including cyber bullying. The initiative included an examination of the literature on the incidence of cyber threats and the impact on educational settings. The Center gathered and reviewed sample policies from schools in other states (with no states having specific and comprehensive state policies on cyber threats and schools), and developed a policy for schools in New York. This session will examine the process and the strategies utilized in the policy development and implementation process, and what steps are required to effect change at a state level.

Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to: 1. Recognize the prevalence of cyber threats in schools 2. Discuss the challenges and barriers to implementing a statewide policy on cyber threats 3. Identify key strategies schools can implement to prevent cyber threats to students and staff

Keywords: Safety, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.