December 2025 Newsletter
Protecting children. Empowering communities.

Reflecting on a Year of Protection and Progress

Dear Friends,

As we close out 2025, we’re grateful for the impact you’ve made this year. Your support has enabled trusted adults to recognize signs of abuse, youth-serving organizations to strengthen their policies, and children to learn how to speak up and stay safe.

This month’s newsletter showcases our growing community’s commitment to child protection. You’ll find updates on our year-end campaign, digital safety resources, and prevention workshops, along with tools to carry into the new year.

Thank you for standing with us. We’re excited about what we can accomplish together in 2026.

Stay safe, and Happy New Year.

Patty

Patricia Dailey Lewis, Esq.
Chief Executive Officer

How AI is changing childhood

The holidays bring excitement, tradition, and time with loved ones. But they can also bring uncomfortable moments for children, especially when it comes to physical affection.

Our latest blog post explores how families can support children in setting personal boundaries with relatives. From what to say before the gathering to how to reinforce boundaries in the moment, you will find practical tips to help children feel safe and heard.

Artificial intelligence has reshaped how children learn, explore, and connect. Voice assistants, search engines, homework helpers, and video recommendations are part of daily life for many young people.

This technology offers opportunities and introduces new risks.

Many parents and caregivers don’t realize how frequently children interact with AI-driven tools. Chatbots, generative text platforms, social media filters, and personalized recommendations quietly shape what children see, how they process information, and what they accept as truth.

Adults need to stay informed and engaged.

What makes AI different

Artificial intelligence learns from patterns and adapts based on behavior. It doesn’t always produce accurate or appropriate results.

With traditional media, adults could generally predict what a child might encounter. AI systems can lead children in unexpected directions with just a few clicks. Algorithms might begin with age-appropriate content, then gradually suggest more extreme or inappropriate material. This happens most often when systems prioritize engagement over safety.

AI tools can also impersonate voices, create convincing fake images, and generate conversations that appear human. These capabilities make it easier for individuals with harmful intentions to conceal their identity and manipulate children online.

What parents and caregivers can do

You don’t need technical expertise to support a child’s safety. You do need to stay involved and ask questions. Here are some starting points:

  • Talk about how AI works. Help children understand that online content isn’t always accurate, and people aren’t always who they claim to be. Explain that some tools are designed to capture attention rather than educate or protect.
  • Review devices and platforms together. Examine the apps, websites, and games your child uses. Check settings related to personalized content or data collection. Many platforms provide parental tools to filter, limit, or monitor AI-generated content.
  • Teach healthy skepticism. Encourage children to pause when something feels off. A realistic-looking image or convincing message isn’t necessarily true or safe.
  • Model responsible tech use. Children learn from what they observe. Let them see you taking screen breaks, asking questions, and thinking critically about content.
  • Keep the conversation going. Technology evolves constantly, and so does your child. Check in regularly. Listen actively. Make sure they know they can come to you with questions, concerns, or uncomfortable online experiences.

How the Beau Biden Foundation can help

Our age-appropriate workshops equip children and youth with essential tools to:

  • Recognize grooming behaviors and unsafe situations
  • Set boundaries online and in person
  • Reach out to trusted adults for help

We also offer Internet safety training that addresses AI tools, digital boundaries and red flags in online interactions for both children and adults, plus free resources for families and youth-serving professionals. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, program coordinator or community leader, you can schedule a prevention workshop that makes a lasting difference as technology continues to evolve.

Support child protection with your year-end gift

Thank you to everyone who has already contributed to our year-end appeal. Your generosity supports training for teachers, coaches, and volunteers, helping ensure that children have access to informed, prepared adults.

If you haven’t yet had a chance to give, there’s still time.

Your gift by Dec. 31 will help us:

  • Train more adults to recognize and report abuse
  • Expand our Shield of Protection network of schools and youth-serving organizations
  • Provide children with age-appropriate prevention education

Swing for a cause

The Child Protection Classic returns on Aug. 11, 2026.

Join us at DuPont Country Club for a day of golf, connection, and purpose. This annual event helps fund prevention training across Delaware and beyond.

Your role matters

The work of protecting children is not limited to a single person, profession, or organization. It is shared across families, schools, community centers, and every place where children live and learn. At the Beau Biden Foundation, we are building that shared responsibility into action.

When you take the time to read a blog, attend an event, or introduce a friend to our mission, you are helping grow a culture of prevention. You are showing that child protection is not someone else’s job. It is a value we all hold, and a responsibility we all share.

Let’s keep going. Know someone who should receive these updates? Share this link.