Why GetKidsSafe?
The seed of GetKidsSafe was planted when Mark Holguin, the Founder and CEO of Security Information Systems, received a call from a distressed mother requesting his help. The woman had some concerns for her teenage daughter’s welfare that she believed required the surveillance of her internet activities. But Holguin knew of no video recording equipment that would serve the specificity of her request.
Finding no one else to help her, the woman persisted in calling even after being turned away four times. Finally her persistence paid off. Holguin did some research that revealed a software package that was designed to do exactly what the woman had requested – provide her with the capability of monitoring her child’s internet activities.
After using the software for a short time, the woman’s fears for her daughter’s wellbeing were justified when she discovered that the girl was being sexually harassed, threatened and blackmailed back someone she had met over the internet. Learning of this, Holguin was glad that he had taken the time to do the research and help this mother and her young daughter. But, equally significant, his concerns were drawn to his own children. The father of four ranging in age from eighteen months to twenty years old, he realized that someone close to him could be at the same risk of violation via the internet.
Further research confirmed his concerns. He discovered alarming statistics revealing that the internet serves as an operating platform for many sexual predators. Determined to do what he could to help other parents protect their children, Mark Holguin began a personal mission to get kids safe.
“For years I have helped home owners and business owners protect their valuable assets,” Holguin recalls. “It’s funny how easily we overlook the protection of what is most important to us – those we love. We spend thousands of dollars protecting a home. Then a small wire comes into that home and we have no idea what might be carried in through it. Now that I know there is a way to account for what enters my home through that wire I can not keep that to myself. I want every one to know about this software and the opportunity to use it to GetKidsSafe. It is safer to leave the front door unlocked than to leave kids’ computers unprotected by this software.”
A Vision for 2007 and Beyond
The GetKidsSafe initiative is a multifaceted community awareness program aimed at getting tools and information into the hands of parents, educators, law enforcement officers and civic leaders that will aid them in the fight to protect our kids from cyber predators. Along with the distribution of these resources, GKS will provide a variety of educational services through the ongoing development of our dynamic web environment, GetKidsSafe.com. GKS provides parents with a virtual tool box that will grow along with the changing face of the internet.
To start off 2007 we will educate thousands of parents at the Hooked on Health Convention at The America’s Center in January. In the following weeks GKS will offer several software tools that aid in the protection of youths online. We will enter into educational institutions to better educate faculty and students about the dangers of the modern internet and demonstrate how schools must be a vital part of protecting our community youth.
Later in 2007 the scope of GKS will be expanded to cover the entire Midwest region in preparation for launching a national campaign. As the year progresses our online community will grow and enlist the aid of perhaps thousands to join our mission to GetKidsSafe. Educating parents about the vast benefits as well as the dangers their children may encounter with new developments in internet use will provide them with a plan of action, the tools to carry it out and a resource for peace of mind.
