:Spring is in the air and summer plans are in the making! In this blog, I would like to share several volunteer opportunities for teens to consider trying this summer. This list focuses on Cobb County and supplements the list of Atlanta opportunities I shared last year.

Please note many of these opportunities require parental supervision and/or parental consent. I hope you enjoy these suggestions and good luck planning your summer!

1) Good Samaritan Health Center of Cobb This is a great opportunity for those interested in health care. Requirements: 16 years old and up, photo I.D., immunization records and application. Contact: Email Megan Freeman to RSVP for orientation and the application.

I work with parents in my juvenile defense practice and am often asked to provide suggestions on how parents can prepare their children for the online world. While there is no magic bullet solution to this ongoing discussion, I do have a few helpful hints for parents to consider.
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Internet Safety Discussion Begins at a Young Age
My first suggestion is to start talking about internet safety with your children at a young age. One of the best ways a parent can do this is by taking the time to sit down with your child, side by side, and go online with them. 

Even if your 8 or 9 year old is only going online to play games, this practice is helpful because you have the opportunity to understand the lay of the land from their perspective. You can learn about what sites they like to visit and why they like them and ask them to walk you through particular games, apps, or sites. As you explore with your child, this opens the door for further discussion and gives you a platform to ask questions. You may ask them whether they have ever received unwanted communication by strangers online, or if they have ever felt unsafe online. It is much easier for a parent to require that they go online with a child at 8 years old, versus 15 or 16, so starting early is critical.

Depending on the jurisdiction (or county, in the instance of juvenile court) where your child is charged, the time frame from the actual incident in question to the first court date may vary.