Rambam Day School in Pinecrest becomes first to trial digital
safety program for students in the second through fifth
grades
MIAMI, Nov. 5, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The Digital Safety Alliance (DSA) announced the
launch of a digital safety certification program, iNvicta for Kids,
to be piloted in Miami elementary
schools. The digital safety certification program is created to
support parents and families in navigating the complexities of
today's digital age, in which children can access inappropriate
content, experience cyberbullying on social media, and suffer
mental distress and addiction to devices like cellphones and video
games.
A collaboration between Nicklaus Children's Hospital, the
Digital Health Institute for Transformation (DHIT), and other key
community partners, The Digital Safety Alliance launched the
Safe+Sound campaign in January of this year in response to
increasing demands from parents for help on when and how to support
their children. The campaign offers families educational support on
how to manage age-appropriate device usage, including cellphones
and tablets, how to navigate social media, and other online
perils.
As part of the Safe+Sound campaign, Rambam Day School at Temple
Beth Am in Miami becomes the first
school in the nation to pilot the iNvicta for Kids program with
elementary- aged students in the second through fifth grades.
Co-founded and developed by CEO Rick
Melnyck, and Lokesh
Ramamoorthi, an expert in cyberhygiene and Assistant
Director of the Innovation Technology & Design Program at the
University of Miami, iNvicta for Kids
is a fun, interactive, engaging platform for educating kids about
internet and device safety and teaching them to be responsible
digital citizens. "Our program equips kids with essential digital
safety skills in a fun, engaging way. Through a combination of
entertaining videos, interactive activities, and printable
materials, we ensure that young learners not only understand
important concepts but also apply them in their everyday lives,"
said Ramamoorthi.
"While there are many benefits to accessing the digital world,
it also brings inherent risks and challenges for children and
parents alike," said Dr. Marisa
Azaret, Director of Clinical Psychology at Nicklaus
Children's Hospital and Chair of the Digital Safety Alliance
advisory board. "At Nicklaus Children's, we are seeing a growing
correlation between internet and social media access by children
and an increase in suicidal thoughts, depression, psychological
distress, eating disorders, disrupted sleep patterns, addiction and
other health-related concerns. The iNvicta for Kids program
provides a much-needed orientation for young children as they start
to navigate the digital highway."
Head of Rambam Day School Nora
Anderson said, "Technology is an inextricable part of our
children's everyday lives. As parents and educators, we have a
responsibility to teach our kids how to navigate the online world
safely and responsibly. We're proud to be the first school in the
country to pilot this important program which will provide our
students with the essential awareness and knowledge to do just
that."
For more information, visit digitalsafetyalliance.org
MEDIA CONTACT:
Nathalie Medina:
nathalie.medina@nicklaushealth.org, 305-663-8556
About the Digital Safety Alliance
Under the umbrella
of Nicklaus Children's Hospital and the non-profit Digital Health
Institute for Transformation, the Digital Safety Alliance serves as
a "think-and-do tank" comprising parents, educators, healthcare
providers, hospital administrators, national corporate partners,
policymakers, and law enforcement officials to raise awareness,
share best practices, and create a safer digital environment for
kids. Forming an alliance of key stakeholders, the organization is
committed to shining a national spotlight on this important issue
and provides information, tools, educational programming, and
resources to empower parents to make informed decisions when it
comes to the digital safety of their children and advocate for
digital safeguards and industry standards. For more information,
visit digitalsafetyalliance.org.
About iNvicta for Kids
iNvicta for Kids is dedicated
to empowering children aged 5-12 through engaging and educational
digital experiences. Our mission is to foster curiosity,
creativity, and a love for learning by providing a diverse range of
interactive content and resources. From Vic's Digital Safety
Safari, which teaches essential digital safety skills, to our
YouTube channel featuring fun and interactive videos on digital
safety, life skills, and personal growth, we offer captivating and
informative programs designed to be both entertaining and
educational. By combining engaging videos, interactive activities,
and printable materials, iNvicta for Kids ensures that young
learners not only grasp important concepts but also apply them in
their everyday lives. For more information, visit iNvicta
for Kids or contact us at collaborate@invictaforkids.com.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exciting content that supports
self-improvement and personal growth for children.
About Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Where Your Child Matters
Most™
Nicklaus Children's Hospital is South Florida's #1 nonprofit, freestanding
specialty licensed hospital exclusively for children. With more
than 850 physicians, including over 500 pediatric subspecialists,
the hospital and its network of outpatient centers and offices
serve close to 70% of children in the Miami market. The only hospital "where your
child matters most™," Nicklaus Children's is home to the region's
most advanced Kenneth C. Griffin Surgical Tower, and its centers of
excellence Helen & Jacob Shaham
Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute, the Nicklaus
Children's Orthopedics, Sports Health and Spine Institute, Nicklaus
Children's Brain Institute and Nicklaus Children's Heart Institute.
The Nicklaus Children's Hospital's Transfer Center, Nick4Kids, and
LifeFlight are responsible for transporting and saving close to
5,000 lives a year. Our 307-bed hospital, which is renowned for
excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, has many specialty
programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News
& World Report since 2008. Nicklaus Children's is also home to
the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern
United States and since 2003 has
been designated an American Nursing Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Magnet facility, the nursing profession's most prestigious
institutional honor. For more information, please visit
www.nicklauschildrens.org
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SOURCE Nicklaus Children's Hospital