By Becky White
For Mission West Virginia
Hurricane – Mission West Virginia’s THINK Program will host a free educational webinar, “Emerging Issues: AI & Victim Safety,” on June 30, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The training is designed for parents, youth-serving professionals, educators, social workers, advocates, and community members who want to better understand the rapidly evolving risks associated with artificial intelligence.
As AI technologies become increasingly accessible, they are creating new opportunities for innovation—but also new avenues for exploitation, harassment, and abuse. This timely webinar will help participants stay ahead of emerging threats by examining how artificial intelligence is being misused to target and harm individuals.
Topics will include AI chatbot abuse, voice cloning scams, undressing apps, synthetic videos (“deepfakes”), facial recognition-enabled stalking, and other emerging forms of technology-facilitated abuse. Participants will gain practical knowledge and strategies to recognize these risks, support victims, and respond effectively as these technologies become more commonplace.
“Technology is evolving at an incredible pace, and many of these tools are becoming available long before the public fully understands their risks,” said Jill Gwilt, Director of Mission West Virginia’s THINK Program. “This webinar will help participants recognize emerging concerns and better protect the young people and communities they serve.”
Meet the Presenter
The webinar will be led by Sloan Thompson, Director of Education & AI Initiatives for EndTAB (End Tech-Enabled Abuse), a national organization dedicated to preventing and responding to technology-facilitated abuse.
Sloan’s work is driven by a passion for creating safer, more respectful online spaces and supporting individuals impacted by violence. Prior to joining EndTAB, she served as a Violence Prevention Coordinator at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and as the Training and Outreach Specialist for the DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
At EndTAB, Sloan has developed partnerships with organizations across the country to address online harm and promote digital safety. She has provided professional development training for domestic and sexual violence coalitions, nonprofits, colleges and universities, and has collaborated with the U.S. Department of the Air Force to advance efforts aimed at preventing image-based sexual abuse and harassment across installations worldwide.
Drawing on her extensive experience in violence prevention and digital safety, Sloan helps communities better understand emerging online risks while promoting healthy relationships and positive online engagement.
Training Details
- Webinar: Emerging Issues: AI & Victim Safety
- Date: June 30, 2026
- Time: 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Cost: Free
- Audience: Parents, youth services workers, educators, social workers, advocates, and community members
- Registration: Required. Space is limited. Register at: https://bit.ly/4ugGmAR
- CEUs: 1.5 Continuing Education Units available for Social Workers and Sexual Assault Victim Advocates who attend the live session
“This training provides timely information about online risks that many young people face today,” said Jill Gwilt, Director of Mission West Virginia’s THINK Program. “By increasing awareness and understanding, we can better equip parents, caregivers and professionals to help youth navigate online spaces safely and confidently.”
This webinar is made possible through a valued partnership with the West Virginia Foundation for Rape Information and Services (WV FRIS), the state’s sexual assault coalition. Established in 1982, WV FRIS is comprised of West Virginia’s rape crisis centers and serves as a vital resource for victims and the professionals who support them. WV FRIS provides education, information and support to those seeking to prevent sexual violence, human trafficking and stalking, while also strengthening services across the state.
About the THINK Program:
Mission West Virginia’s THINK Program partners with schools in 19 counties to provide evidence-based education that helps young people make healthy decisions and avoid high-risk behaviors. The program is delivered by trained educators using proven curriculum shown to reduce teen pregnancy risk, sexually transmitted infections, and other sexual risk behaviors. Through ongoing training, classroom observations, and participant feedback, THINK maintains a commitment to quality, effectiveness, and positive outcomes for youth.
About Mission WV
Mission West Virginia is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth and families across the state through education, support services, mentorship, foster care and adoption programs, and initiatives that promote positive youth development.
Learn more at www.missionwv.org.
