Supporting Parents and Protecting Children

At OPLM, we support parents navigating the challenges of their child’s mental health, providing guidance, resources, and community for families managing developmental, emotional, or behavioral needs. Bark shares a complementary mission: equipping families with digital safety tools that help children and teens stay safe online, set healthy technology boundaries, and navigate the pressures of social media, gaming, and other digital platforms.

While our approaches differ—mental health support versus technology safety—the heart of our work is aligned: protecting children, supporting parents, and fostering connection, trust, and resilience in an increasingly complex world.

The Role of Technology in Building Community

We support Bark because technology can play a meaningful role in building community and amplifying support for families. Online safety tools, monitoring platforms, and educational resources empower parents to guide their children’s digital experiences with confidence. These tools reinforce healthy communication, autonomy, and responsibility while helping families manage the challenges of an increasingly digital world.

Encouraging Digital Fluency at Home

Parents can take an active role in developing their child’s technological fluency. Talk with your kids about their online experiences, explore tools that help them safely navigate social media and apps, and create open spaces for conversations about digital boundaries. Staying engaged allows parents to support safe and developmentally appropriate technology use, turning potential risks into opportunities for growth, learning, and connection.

Learn More and Take Action

Recently, Bark spoke with us to explore our movement, discuss how online safety tools can complement in-person guidance, and highlight how even a single shared story can make a meaningful difference. Learn more about Bark and their mission to help families navigate an ever-evolving tech world, support parents in providing children with safe digital experiences, and read Casie’s full blog here.

Take a proactive step today: review your child’s digital habits, set clear yet flexible boundaries, and help them navigate technology with confidence. By staying informed and involved, you can turn tech into a tool for growth, connection, and learning—not stress or risk.

Want to dive deeper? Explore our Speaker Talk recordings for practical strategies and expert insights:

Bark is a parental control software that monitors a child’s online activity, including texts, social media, and emails, using AI to detect potential threats like cyberbullying, suicidal thoughts, and other dangerous content. It sends parents alerts for concerning issues, allows them to manage screen time, block websites and apps, and track location, while aiming to preserve the child’s privacy by not sharing every message.