Preparing for Child Protection Month: Sample Bulletin Announcements

1. April 2013 is Child Protection Month: National media reports have addressed the failure of individuals, institutions, and organizations that serve youth to report suspected child abuse. April was first declared Child Abuse Prevention Month nationwide by presidential proclamation in 1983. Posted in this “Safety Corner” for the next few weeks will be reminders of the many ways needed to create and sustain safe environments for our children in our homes, parishes, and communities. (Note: Follow up in the next weeks with safety suggestions.)

2. Getting started: No one has the right to have access to children. If people volunteer in our parish, they must follow diocesan guidelines on background checks, safe environment training, policies and procedures, and codes of conduct. No one has an automatic right to be around children or young people who are in the care of the church without proper screening and without following the rules.

3. Child sexual abuse can be prevented. Awareness that child sexual abuse can occur anywhere is a start. It is then critical to build safety barriers around children and the vulnerable to keep them from harm. These barriers come in the form of protective guardians, codes of conduct, background evaluations, policies and procedures, and safety training programs. What components make up an effective safe environment program in our parish? Look for the answer in this space next week!

4. Subsequent week announcement: An effective safe environment programs has these components:

1. A code of conduct for all who have regular contact with children, including clergy, parish employees, and volunteers.

2. Training for all adults who work with children to identify signs of possible abuse.

3. A training program for children that includes age-appropriate materials pertaining to personal safety that conforms to Catholic teachings.

4. Check out this website for more information: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/safe-environment.cfm

5. Adult child safety training prepares us to:

1. Identify signs an adult may see in a child who is abused

2. Identify signs an adult may see in a person who abuses children

3. Know what actions an adult should take when they believe child abuse may be occurring

6. Who is a Mandated Reporter of suspected child abuse?  Q: Following a child’s disclosure of abuse or when one suspects that a child is or has been maltreated, how should one go about making a child abuse report, and who is required by law to make a report? A: If the suspected maltreatment involves a parent or a caretaker situation, one typically must make a report to the local Child Protective Service or CPS agency. (Note: Be sure to place the local contact information from that agency in the bulletin.)

7. Q: What to do if a child discloses being abused? A: If a child has actually disclosed being abused, always tell the child that you believe the child and that you are going to contact some people who can help them. When speaking with the child, try not to display horror or shock, or voice any disapproval of the situation. Because the child will be required to tell their story, in detail, to investigating professionals, you do not need to press the child for any specifics. Also remember, you only need to suspect child maltreatment in order to make a report to the proper authorities.

8. Can we always tell who is a child abuser? You cannot always predict who will be an abuser. Experience shows that most abuse is at the hands of someone who has gained the trust of a victim/survivor and his/her family. Most abuse also occurs in the family setting. Sometimes the “nicest person in the world” is an abuser, and this “niceness” enables a false sense of trust to be created between abuser and abused.

9. What are the warning signs of child abusers? There are behavioral warning signs of child abusers. Training and education help adults recognize grooming techniques that are precursors to abuse. Some abusers isolate a potential victim by giving him or her undue attention or lavish gifts. Another common grooming technique is to allow young people to participate in activities which their parents or guardians would not approve, such as watching pornography, drinking alcohol, using drugs, and excessive touching, which includes wrestling and tickling. It is also critical to be wary of age-inappropriate relationships, seen, for example, in the adult who is more comfortable with children than fellow adults. Parishes can set up rules to guide interaction between adults and children.

10. Why do we do CORI background checks of volunteers? Background checks work. Background checks in churches, schools and other organizations keep predators away from children both because they scare off some predators and because they uncover past actions which should ban an adult from working or volunteering with children. If an adult has had difficulty with some boundaries that society sets, such as not driving while intoxicated or not disturbing the public peace, he or she may have difficulties with other boundaries, such as not hurting a child. Never forget that offenders lie.

11. List your parish safe environment coordinator name and contact information. Here is a brief Checklist to take the pulse of your parish

1. Does your parish have a Code of Conduct?

2. Does your parish train adult volunteers in abuse awareness?

3. Is child abuse prevention training taught in religious education program?

4. Are criminal background checks mandatory for all volunteers who work with children?

5. VOTF has resources and templates available!

6. List of all US Diocesan Coordinators: http://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/safe-environment-program-coordinators.cfm