Magic Valley Alliance for Children Hosts Two-Day Conference on Internet Safety and Child Protection in Twin Falls, Idaho
Professionals Gather at CSI to Address Online Threats Facing Children
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — Law enforcement officers, social workers, school counselors, and child welfare professionals gathered this week in Twin Falls for a two-day conference hosted by the Magic Valley Alliance for Children, focusing on internet safety, sextortion, trauma reduction, and victims’ rights.
The conference, held April 22 and 23 at the Herrett Center at the College of Southern Idaho, brought together a multidisciplinary team of professionals dedicated to child protection across the Magic Valley region. The event featured presentations from the Twin Falls Police Department, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, and other specialists working on the front lines of child safety.
Silvia Renova Gaxiola, Program Manager for CARES and the event’s coordinator, said the conference is intentionally designed to cross professional boundaries.
“We call it a MDT conference so that’s a multidisciplinary team conference so really anybody who works with kids like law enforcement, health and welfare, counselors, substance folks,” Renova said. “We put this conference together and it offers continuing education credits for those folks who are working in these fields.”
The conference carried particular relevance for Twin Falls County families, as children across Magic Valley — like those throughout Idaho and the nation — increasingly navigate complex and potentially dangerous online environments.
Sextortion, Cybersecurity, and the Work of Idaho’s ICAC Unit
Among the most prominent topics addressed on day one was sextortion — a form of online exploitation in which minors are manipulated or coerced into sending explicit images, which are then used as leverage against them. Greg Lindsay, an investigator with the Idaho Attorney General’s Office assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) unit, was among the presenters.
“We were here to speak about internet safety and sextortion and the work that we do to protect children here in the state of Idaho,” Lindsay said. “I would hope that those three points get across — that we work diligently to, whenever there’s a possible or potential for a child to be hurt or maybe hurt themselves with sextortion, we do everything we can to get that protection out there and notify agencies or ourselves go out there and handle it.”
Lindsay was joined by Emily Moon, an analyst also with the Idaho Attorney General’s Office, as part of the sextortion presentation.
Eric Strassner, a school resource officer with the Twin Falls Police Department, led a session on youth internet safety and emphasized why cross-professional collaboration is critical.
“It’s important for adults — especially in the professions that work with kids, from law enforcement to social workers to school counselors — to know that children are developing social skills and meaningful relationships both online and offline,” Strassner said. “It’s our job to help those children navigate the online world as we do the offline world.”
Additional sessions on day one covered victims’ rights, multidisciplinary team (MDT) coordination, and a session on combating professional burnout among those who work in high-stress child welfare and law enforcement roles.
Day Two Focuses on Trauma Reduction Training
The second day of the conference, held Thursday, April 23, centered on the CE-CERT program — Components for Enhancing Career Experience and Reducing Trauma — led by Dr. Elena Doskey de Lobón. The full-day training is designed to equip professionals with tools to manage the psychological toll that comes with working in child protection, law enforcement, and social services.
Both days offered continuing education credits for attendees, recognizing the professional development value of the training. Renova noted that the event was open to community members as well.
The conference reflects a broader effort by Idaho law enforcement and child advocacy organizations to stay ahead of rapidly evolving digital threats. As messaging apps and social media platforms continue to expand, experts warn that children remain particularly vulnerable without informed adult guidance at home, in schools, and in the community.
For Twin Falls County residents looking for community resources and local events, the Twin Falls City Pool recently soft-opened its newly expanded main building following a $2 million renovation, offering another safe community space for families and children this spring. Residents can also find local exploration opportunities through features like rare geological discoveries near the Nevada border south of Twin Falls.
What Comes Next
With the two-day conference now concluded, organizers and presenters are expected to return to their respective agencies and apply what was shared across Twin Falls County’s network of child-serving professionals. The Idaho Attorney General’s ICAC unit continues to actively investigate internet crimes against children statewide. Parents and guardians are encouraged to contact local law enforcement or child advocacy organizations if they suspect a child is being targeted online. For statewide coverage of child safety legislation and law enforcement policy, visit Idaho News or the Idaho News Network.