The National Conference on School Leadership

Nashville, TN, July 13, 2024 — Givebacks, the industry standard in K-12 payments and giving technology, and Aura, the all-in-one online safety solution for individuals and families, are launching Digital Parenthood: Home Base, a program aimed at equipping parents with essential tools to raise confident and safe connected kids.

Earlier this year, the Los Angeles school board approved a cellphone ban all day on campus, and the U.S. surgeon general called for a warning on social media platforms, advising parents that they can damage teenagers’ mental health.

“As a father of four, I love the way technology creates opportunities for my kids to connect and learn, but it comes with its own set of risks that, as a parent, can be overwhelming,” said Hari Ravichandran, Aura Founder and CEO. “I found myself looking for resources that could help me and my family find balance in our connected lives, but I couldn’t find it. So, we got to work building it.”

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, parenting comes with unique challenges. Recognizing this, Givebacks and Aura have joined forces to help parents navigate digital parenthood with tools, training and resources that can be implemented right away.

The primary objective of this partnership is to empower parents of K-12 school-aged children with the knowledge and resources they need to support their kids’ healthy use of technology. The comprehensive training program will cover crucial topics such as online safety, digital literacy and fostering healthy digital habits.

“Our collaboration with Aura is a natural fit as we continue our commitment to supporting school communities and their families,” said Bob Costa, Co-founder & President of Givebacks. “Together, we can provide parents with the tools they need to safely guide their children through the complexities of the digital age.”

Digital Parenthood: Home Base not only provides vital support to parents but also underscores both organizations’ dedication to cultivating a safer and more confident generation of digital natives. K-12 school and PTA leaders are encouraged to nominate a Digital Safety Officer to participate in the “train the trainer” style program, enabling them to return to their “home base” to host training sessions with local parents about navigating their kids’ digital safety. There will also be three regional events across the U.S. that will take place in the first half of 2025.