Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Social media awareness • Dave Gomez, a law enforcement veteran and school resource officer visited area schools, including Summerland Public School, in December to discuss dangers of social media. The event was paid for, in full or part, by North Central District Health Department through a Drug Free Communities Grant from the Office of National Drug Control Policy and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Holt/Boyd Community Connections Coalition and The Holt/Boyd Community Connections Collaborative through a Rural Full Service Community Schools Grant sponsored by the Nebraska Department of Education and the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation.
SUBMITTED ARTICLE - NCDHD
"You didn't grow up, you gave up."
This is Officer Dave Gomez's reply to youth citing "growing up" as an excuse for misusing the internet, alcohol and drugs. The response should be mirrored by everyone discussing the health and wellness of youth.
On Dec. 12 and 13, North Central District Health Department and the Holt/Boyd County Collaboration brought Gomez to 10 areas schools in Holt and Knox counties. Gomez, a 13-year Idaho law enforcement officer veteran and 10 as a school resource officer, presented "Dangers of social media" to sixth- through 12th-grade students.
Gomez pulled from his time as an SRO and experience with a taskforce on Internet Crimes Against Children, working to track and apprehend serious online predators. Gomez shared online predator tactics, best practices to combat social media scams, how drugs are glamorized by social media and how they are being sold and shared in schools. With the ever-changing online landscape, Gomez's message is vital for youth, teachers, parents and grandparents alike.
Margaret Sandoz, superintendent at Niobrara Public Schools, applauded the presentation, saying, "Gomez provided real-life experience of how teens and any others utilizing social media can be misinformed and possibly placed in dangerous situations if not careful."
When asked what part of Gomez's presentation had the biggest impact, students replied, "The part he talked about kids going through things at home we have no idea about, so we need to be nice to everyone," and "Thinking before I do."
When students were asked how they will apply Gomez's message, area youth replied, "Being kinder to all those around me;" "To never do drugs or smoke, or send naughty pictures;" "Be more aware of who I add and accept on social media;" "I plan to check up on people more often and report any clues I may see;" and "Stay away from drugs and alcohol, and help my fellow classmates and friends."
According to a spokesman for the health district, NCDHD strives to improve the health and wellness in the district, and would like to pose the question to residents, "Does social media improve your life?"
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