heal i ng ou r fam i ly How long has the diocese had a Victim Assistance Coordinator? In 2002, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) adopted The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and The Essential Norms, marking a significant shift in the level of organization and accountability in Church law regarding clergy sexual abuse. As part of the Charter, the responsibility of victim outreach and pastoral support was established and required for every diocese.
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Learn more about the USCCB’s efforts at usccb.org/topics/catholic-safeguards
What drew you to the role of Victim Assistance Coordinator? A belief in the rights of all victims and survivors, their pursuit of justice and dignity, their right to be believed and actively listened to. I want to take my experiences in anti-violence systems change and share them with the Church in our effort to transform the response to clergy sexual abuse.
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What is a typical day like for you in your role? I have the privilege of walking with victim-survivors and their support systems as they journey through disclosing the abuse they endured, participating in the Independent Review Board process, and counseling. I also support victim-survivors by raising awareness of trauma, long-term health impacts of abuse, and work to integrate trauma-informed processes and policies into our response to those who have been harmed by clergy sexual abuse.
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An advocate for victim-survivors
What is “survivor-led response” and why is it important in the work you do? A survivor-led or survivor-centered response means that we strive to keep victim-survivor’s voices and experiences at the center of this work. We have a responsibility to invite victim-survivors to inform the work that is happening. Providing options and finding ways to meet them where they are at is all part of a survivor-centered approach.
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By Ashlie Hand | Photos by Megan Marley
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pril is Child Abuse Prevention Month, which marks an important month in the year-round work of the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph’s Office of Child
and Youth Protection (OCYP). One of the newest members of the OCYP team is Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC) Whitney True-Francis. We sat down with Whitney to learn more about her role and her passion for supporting victims and survivors of child abuse.
Where do you fit in at the diocesan offices? I am on the local response team for victim-survivors when a report is made of sexual abuse of a minor within the Church. I also partner with Journey to Bethany to help transform the diocese and the local community’s response and their support of victims and survivors of abuse within the Church.
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LEARN MORE about our diocese’s OCYP at kcsjcatholic.org/office/child-youth-protection
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Catholic Key • April/May 2022 • catholickey.org
Is healing possible? Healing is possible for some but may not be accessible for all at this time. Healing doesn’t mean that a person gets over it or is finally unaffected by the abuse. A victim-survivor will never be unaffected by the harm they endured. We can prevent future abuse and respond to victim-survivors in a way that holds abusers accountable and creates a Church culture of safety for victim-survivors.
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“Our local Catholic community has been deeply affected by the harm and scandal of clergy sexual abuse. This vital and sacred ministry provided by Whitney along with lay partners from Journey to Bethany brings us together as a community, to hold one another up as we journey towards healing.” — Carrie Cooper, director, Office of Child and Youth Protection
