Community members, parents and teens are invited to attend the free presentation “Building Safe Online Communities” from 6:30-8 p.m. Sept. 30 at the Bud Werner Library in Steamboat Springs.

The educational evening in Library Hall will offer insights from experienced staff with the Steamboat Springs Police Department on how teens are navigating the ever-changing world of technology and how parents can support their teens.

Speakers include Detective and School Resource Officer Lisa Eifling and Civilian Criminal Investigator Patty Oakland.

The talk will address understanding popular online platforms and how teenagers are using technology, evaluating technology use at home and encouraging meaningful conversations with children, and applying this knowledge to help children stay informed and safe online.

Other topics will include resources available to support digital safety, identification of social media apps currently linked by law enforcement to issues or crimes observed, and serious topics such as sexting, extortion and child exploitation.

Oakland earned master’s degrees in criminal justice and in nursing with an emphasis in forensics. Eifling has 13 years of experience as a law enforcement officer specializing in juvenile justice, restorative practices and school safety.

A question-and-answer session will follow the presentation. The educational evening is sponsored by Steamboat Kids and Phones, a group dedicated to facilitating education on youth and technology. For questions, email SteamboatKidsandPhones@gmail.com.