Community & School Programs

The Berkshire District Attorney’s Office supports schools, children, community organizations, and caregivers as we work to build a safe, healthy Berkshire County. Schools and community organizations seeking presentation on topics intersecting with the law can contact the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office to request program availability or creation.

Currently, the Office hosts multiple internet safety programs and a mandated reporter program. Intermittently, the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office partners with federal law enforcement agencies to host community-wide trainings on various topics. The trainings are posted on the homepage of the website along with registration information.

In-School Youth Internet Safety Programs:

• Led by the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Berkshire County Kids’ Place and Violence Prevention Center
• Uses the NetSmartz model which was created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
• Two, 45-minute in school presentations
• Includes a caregiver letter explaining the program and provides tips on how to speak with children about internet safety

Caregiver Internet Safety Program:

• Led by the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Berkshire County Kids’ Place and Violence Prevention Center
• Available for after or before school caregiver meetings (example a coffee talk or evening meeting)
• Uses the NetSmartz model which was created by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
• One, 1-hour long presentation

Legalities and Approaches to Safe EdTech Usage:

• Led by the Berkshire District Attorney’s Office, Julia Sabourin, and Richmond School Technology Director, Ronna Zigmand.
• Provides an oversight of the laws surrounding EdTech usage in the classroom and discusses how these legalities should inform practice
• Provides educators with concrete tools to ensure their use of EdTech in the classroom is safe and that students’ online identities are protected.
• This presentation has been selected as an international model and has been presented multiple years at the International Society for Technology in Education annual conference
• Under the Children’s Internet Privacy Act, a federal law, educators are required to be trained on safe internet usage. This program is a great way to provide said training.

For information on community programs call the District Attorney’s Office to speak to the Director of Community Engagement and Juvenile Diversion, Stacy Parsons at 413-443-5951.