Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today that a statewide program aimed at keeping kids safer on the Internet reached 65,605 participants during the recently completed 2012 fiscal year.

A legislative appropriation administered by the Attorney General’s Office allows the Netsmartz program to be presented throughout the state by the Kansas Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs.

National Center for Missing Exploited Children and Boys & Girls Clubs of America initiated the interactive, educational program developed for children ages 5 to 17 and their parents, teachers and law enforcement officers.

The program uses age-appropriate, interactive activities to teach individuals how to be safer online.

“Netsmartz is a comprehensive program to educate youth and adults about Internet safety,” Schmidt said. “This program continues to grow, and I appreciate the dedication and hard work of our partners, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kansas, to help keep kids safe.”

To learn more about the program, call the Attorney General’s Office at (785) 296-2215 or visit www.ag.ks.gov.