Fauquier organizations to host free “Parenting in the Digital Age” event November 2
WARRENTON, Va. — Parents and caregivers will have an opportunity to learn how to better protect children from online exploitation, abuse and other digital threats during a free community event Monday, Nov. 2, at Highland School in Warrenton.
The Fauquier Chamber of Commerce and the Fauquier Anti Sex Trafficking Alliance (FASTA), a service project of the Rotary Club of Warrenton, are co-hosting “Parenting in the Digital Age” from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Michael A. Hughes Arts Center, Door A2, at Highland School, 597 Broadview Ave., Warrenton.
Doors will open at 2:30 p.m. for attendees to check in and visit community organizations and resource booths. The formal program will include presentations from two nationally recognized experts, followed by an opportunity for questions and answers. Community organizations and resources will remain available following the program, with refreshments provided by the Fauquier Chamber of Commerce.
The event is free, although pre-registration is encouraged and can be done on the Chamber’s website, www.fauquierchamber.org/events
The need for parent education around online safety continues to grow. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, the organization received more than 21 million reports through its CyberTipline in 2025, including approximately 19.5 million reports involving suspected child sexual abuse material and more than 1.4 million reports of online enticement. Reports of online enticement increased 158% from 2024 to 2025. NCMEC also received more than 50,000 reports of financial sextortion, a crime that disproportionately affects teenage boys.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation reported more than 75,000 sextortion-related submissions in 2025, including thousands involving victims under age 20. The FBI warns that sextortion and other forms of online exploitation can begin on virtually any social media platform, messaging service, website or online game.
“Children are spending more time online, and the threats they face are changing rapidly,” said Alec Burnett, Fauquier Chamber CEO. “Our goal is to give parents practical information they can use immediately, while also helping businesses understand how supporting their employees as parents ultimately strengthens their workplaces and our community.”
The event will feature Alan Wilkett, an Advisor on Human Trafficking with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families. Wilkett is a retired Pasco County, Florida, sheriff’s sergeant with more than 30 years of law-enforcement experience, including nearly 15 years with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. His career included assignments involving threat mitigation, investigations, crime prevention, patrol and community relations. He was named the department’s 2007 Law Enforcement Deputy of the Year.
Wilkett has spent the past several years focused on combating child exploitation and human trafficking. During the event, he will address the importance of parents monitoring online activity, establishing boundaries, using privacy and safety settings, having difficult conversations with children and knowing when and how to report suspected predators.
He also will introduce the HHS Office on Trafficking in Persons’ N.O.P.E. Toolkit, which provides families with practical tools for building online safety skills, establishing shared expectations around technology and developing a plan for responding when something goes wrong.
The second featured speaker will be Donna Rice Hughes, President and CEO of Enough Is Enough, a nationally recognized internet safety advocate, author and speaker. Hughes has conducted hundreds of seminars, testified before Congress and participated in more than 4,500 media interviews on issues involving children and technology. She is the creator of Internet Safety 101 and has received numerous awards for her work protecting children online.
Hughes will introduce Fauquier parents to the Internet Safety 101 Academy, a resource designed to help parents and other adults understand and address online child exploitation, pornography, sex trafficking, digital devices, online gaming, cyberbullying, cybersecurity, social media and artificial intelligence.
“Parents don't need to become technology experts to help keep their children safe,” said Amelia Stansell, FASA co-founder. “They do need to understand the environments their children are navigating, know what warning signs to look for and be willing to have conversations that can sometimes feel uncomfortable. This event is about giving families the knowledge and tools to do exactly that.”
The November event is the first in a planned four-part Parenting in the Digital Age series. Future programs are scheduled to address human trafficking awareness and prevention on Jan. 11, 2027; hands-on demonstrations involving the Fauquier County Sheriff’s Office on March 8; and tools for safeguarding children during summer break on May 10. The future dates are planned and subject to confirmation.
The Jan. 11 program will focus on Human Trafficking Awareness and Prevention and conclude with a candlelight vigil recognizing National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. The March program is expected to feature the Sheriff's Office’s Hidden in Plain Sight interactive display and an Internet Crimes Against Children demonstration.
Organizers say the adult-focused series is intended not only for parents, but also for grandparents, caregivers, educators, employers and other adults who play a role in children's lives.
“Businesses have an important role to play in creating safer communities,” said Alec Burnett, Fauquier Chamber CEO. “When employers give their employees opportunities to learn how to protect their children, they are also helping those employees be more confident and focused at work.”
For registration information, visit www.fauquierchamber.org/events
