The diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection will offer a free technology security workshop, May 22 in St. Dominic Church, 250 Old Squan Rd., Brick Twp., from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and in the Pastoral Center, 701 Lawrenceville Rd., Trenton, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. “Boundaries: Protecting Children, Young People and Yourself From Technology Dangers,” is designed to address the reality that a proliferation of technology infiltrates every area of life, with the potential for both enhancing communication and relationships, as well as for harm to families and communities, including child abuse.

With an increase in social media and a culture-wide encouragement to share personal information, some victims of child abuse have been referred to as “compliant victims.” This innovative workshop will address the investigation of child sexual abuse and looks at the role of ever-changing technology and the “compliant victim.” The workshop will identify and discuss the methodologies and specific grooming techniques employed by the child molester in social networking sites, gaming sites and on the Internet. The program examines the topics of pornography, child erotica, and child pornography, and will address the issue of adults utilizing technology appropriately when communicating with children and young people – a topic of particular interest to those in ministry with youth.

Presenter Robert Hugh Farley is a retired commanding officer of the Chicago Cook County Sheriff’s Police: Child Exploitation Unit. As a highly decorated detective, unit supervisor and Deputy United States Marshal, he has more than 28 years experience conducting and supervising all aspects of child abuse investigation from sexual abuse to child homicide.

As an internationally recognized expert, consultant, author and instructor in child abuse investigation techniques he has conducted thousands of child abuse investigation training seminars for the U.S. Department of Justice and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in all 50 states and in 22 different countries for INTERPOL. In 2011, he became the first police officer to ever conduct a child sexual abuse awareness seminar for the clergy in the Vatican. He has been an expert on crimes against children for the VIRTUS programs since 2003.

The workshop is open to all, especially those who minister to children and youth in our communities. Registration required one week prior to event. For information, call 609-403-7170 or email childprotection@ dioceseoftrenton.org.