Digital Equity for Children and Families: Barriers, Solutions & Ways to Get Involved

Having a strong, stable internet connection and up-to-date equipment is more important today than ever. Connectivity is essential for children’s school success, parents’ access to information about health and safety, health and mental health services that often are delivered virtually. Social connections for all family members, especially as the uncertainty of the pandemic continues, is another important reason for internet access. Yet, too many children and families still lack the connection they need. So what are the factors that account for this lack of digital equity? And what are solutions at the level of individual families, schools, other organizations and communities as a whole?   In this week’s episode of Mom Enough, Stacey Nelson Kumar, Director of Community Impact for Comcast Twin Cities Region, joins Marti & Erin for an important discussion of the barriers to digital equity. She shares creative solutions that are making it possible for Twin Cities families and children, whatever their income or background, to get connected in their homes and throughout the community. Learn about Internet Essentials for families, Comcast’s Partnership Programs that meet people where they are, and more than 70 free Lift Zones throughout the metro area. Most important, learn how you or people you know can take advantage of these initiatives. And, if you don’t live in the Twin Cities or Minnesota, get ideas for how your own community might engage internet providers in stepping up to promote digital equity.   WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ADDRESS DIGITAL EQUITY? What are some of the barriers to digital equity Stacey Nelson Kumar identified in this Mom Enough discussion? What did you learn about solutions at the family level? At the level of schools or other community organizations? If you live in the Twin Cities Metro area, how could you or others you know benefit from programs such as Internet Essentials, the Partnership Program or the more than 70 Lift Zones in this community?   WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT DIGITAL ACCESS? ❉ MOM ENOUGH LIVE: WIRED FOR SUCCESS. Tune in to the second Mom Enough Live discussion on removing barriers to internet access for online learning with co-hosts, Dr. Erin Erickson and Dr. Marti Erickson, and guest expert, Stacey Nelson-Kumar of Comcast. Learn about digital equity, how Comcast is connecting low-income families with internet through their Internet Essentials program, how you can find out if you qualify for low-cost internet, and what you can do to help families in the community get connected!   ❉ MOM ENOUGH LIVE: MANAGING SCREEN TIME DURING COVD-19. Tune in to the third Mom Enough Live discussion on managing screen time during the pandemic with co-hosts, Dr. Erin Erickson and Dr. Marti Erickson, and guest expert, Jill Hornbacher of Comcast. Learn about parents’ biggest concerns about their children’s internet use, how the pandemic has changed screen time usage, why it’s difficult to stay on top of your family’s internet use, how parents can manage screen time,