TAVARES — The Lake County Shared Services Network is hosting a “Child Protection Mini-Conference” on Wednesday, May 4, at the Lake-Sumter Community College Paul P. Williams Auditorium, located at 9501 U.S. Highway 441, Leesburg, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The conference will feature several guest speakers, including Lt. Bill Black, of the Littleton Police Department, and Division Chief Jay Ruoff, from Littleton Fire & Rescue, who will discuss surviving the 1999 shooting tragedy at Columbine High School.

Other distinguished speakers at the conference are Deputy Jayson Williams, from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, who will speak about protecting children from bullying and gangs, and Detective Mike Bauté, from Gainesville Police Department, who will show conference attendees how to better protect children from online sexual predators.

The Shared Services Network helps the community meet multiple educational, health and social service needs of children and their families in a collaborative way. Since 1993, Shared Services Network projects have brought decision-makers to the table to encourage coordinated service delivery through interagency agreements, shared funding and policies that encourage shared services.

Lake County Commissioner Debbie Stivender, along with many other Lake County constitutional officers, elected officials and appointed chief executives from local governmental agencies, sit on the Shared Services Network Executive Roundtable.

“This conference provides an excellent avenue for the public and countywide agencies to better understand how we can better protect the children of Lake County,” she said.

Reservations to the conference cost $15 and are due by April 27. For more information about the “Child Protection Mini-Conference” or to reserve a seat, call Lori Humphrey, Project Manager f or Lake County Shared Services Network, at (352) 742-6941 or e-mail humphreyl@lake.k12.fl.us.

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Contact information:
Christopher Patton
Communications Coordinator
Office: (352) 343-9609; Cell: (352) 455-0445
cpatton@co.lake.fl.us