Juvenile Welfare Board, Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, and Parent ProTech Announce Powerful Initiative to Keep Kids Safe Online

On Monday, December 8, 2025, the Juvenile Welfare Board (JWB) announced a groundbreaking initiative to safeguard Pinellas County children online and equip families with vital support as students approach the holiday break, a time marked by increased device usage.

JWB Interim CEO Michael Mikruak announced that starting today, JWB is offering all Pinellas County parents, grandparents, and concerned citizens a free annual subscription to Parent Protech where they will find the latest expert tools to navigate their child’s technology safely.

Parent ProTech’s vast online library includes videos and guides on topics like parental controls, social media, AI, and more. Plus, their experts keep pace with developing digital trends, alerting families to new, emerging dangers on their child’s devices.

“When JWB was created 80 years ago, ‘stranger danger’ meant someone in a van offering candy to lure children away,” continued Mikurak. “Today, cyberbullies, human traffickers, and online predators can enter homes 24/7 through a child’s phone, computer, or gaming system, putting them in imminent danger.”

“It’s like leaving your child’s bedroom window open or your doors unlocked,” added Sheriff Gualtieri.

Studies tell us that kids average 8 to 11 hours on their devices each day – and these numbers spike when children aren’t in school. Online crimes against children are up as well.

Parent ProTech is part of JWB’s Children’s Mental Health Initiative aimed at protecting children, reducing stigmas, and instilling a sense of well-being and belonging. Research consistently shows a strong link between cyberbullying, online harassment, and youth suicide. The U.S. has seen a significant increase in youth suicide, with rates among children aged 10 to 14 increasing by 95% between 2000 and 2018, and is the second leading cause of death for our children and youth. This rise has occurred concurrently with increased online and social media use and has been termed a “Youth Mental Health Crisis” by the U.S. Surgeon General.

JWB has amassed a powerful alliance of legislators, law enforcement, and community leaders: a united front to decisively combat cyberbullies, human traffickers, and online predators. We urge every Pinellas County parent, grandparent, and concerned adult to take five minutes to create a free online account with Parent ProTech and begin accessing resources. Sheriff Gualtieri stated, “Together, let’s put online predators on notice!”

JWB is protecting children and investing in their futures by offering free annual subscriptions to Parent ProTech for all Pinellas County families and concerned citizens. Sign-up today at app.parentprotech.com/jwb.