Because We Care

Because We Care ...

Diocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Young People

Diocese of Rockville Centre Most Reverend William F. Murphy

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month

Protecting Our Children: Talk 2 US This is the ninth issue in a series of educational newsletters that the Diocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Young People will provide for parents and volunteers. As you are aware, the Diocese of Rockville Centre has consistently worked to create safe and inspiring environments in our churches, schools and agencies.

Our school programs and core curriculum are built on strong Catholic principles that underscore the goal for young people to behave in a Christian manner.

Volume 1 Issue 9

April 2012 Special points of interest: The Talk 2 Us program urges students to take an active role in preventing abuse by becoming active, involved and informed members of their family, school and local community, The program’s aim is to get information out to youngsters regarding abuse so that they are equipped with the tools necessary to recognize the warning signs, know how to report abuse and work with others at home, in school or in their community to prevent abuse.

The Talk 2 Us program encourages students to: *Know the signs that signal abuse. *Talk up if you have a concern. * Tell a trusted adult or friend. * Learn how to report abuse.* Tell someone. * Speak out against abuse. For more information on this program, go to www.drvc.org and click on Protecting Children.

Diocesan Child Protection Policy 2012 O f f i c e f o r t h e P r o t e c t i o n o f C h i l d r e n a n d Y o u n g P e o p l e 2 0 1 2

Bishop of Rockville Cen-

Please note: The revised 2012 Child Protection Policy booklet will be available online at the end of April 2012.

www.drvc.org click on the Protecting Children tab at the top of the homepage.

• The revised Diocesan Child Protection Policy 2012 booklet will be available by the end of April 2012.

• An independent audit firm, the StoneBridge Business Partners, Inc., found the diocese to be in FULL compliance with the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Inside this issue: FYI

2

Historical View

3

Parental Tips

4

Fuzzie Cartoon

4

Page 2

Because We Care ...

FYI

Eileen F. Puglisi, Director

Diocesan Office for the Protection of Children and Young People

During the past ten years, a great deal of work has been done in all dioceses across the country to assure that children are safe when they attend our church programs and that any form of abuse, specifically child sexual abuse, is prevented.

Here are some facts: •

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The Charter of the Protection of Children and Young People was established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in June 2002 and revised in 2011. The Charter is a comprehensive set of procedures for addressing allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy.

Training employees and volunteers to recognize the behavior of offenders and knowing how to report it, is a critical component required to prevent child sexual abuse.

.Centre sign a Code of Conduct.

In the United States there are 2.18 million trained volunteers and employees in our churches and schools.

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Background screening is now a standard procedure put in place to make sure that the parish, school or program leaders know who is working with children

Because We Care and those who would do harm are excluded.

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A Code of Conduct makes clear to staff and volunteers what is acceptable behavior when working with children and young people. A code of conduct is a clear, concise guideline for interaction with children and young people. All staff and volunteers in the Diocese of Rockville .

Nationwide, over 4.8 million children have been taught to recognize the warning signs of abuse, how to report abuse and ways to protect themselves.

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In 2002, the USCCB contracted the John Jay College of Criminal Justice to conduct two extensive studies: (1) The Nature and the Scope of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests and Deacons in the United States 19502002.

(2) The Causes and Context of the Sexual Abuse Scandal Study. The National Re view Board has developed a set of recommendations based on these studies.

In the Diocese of Rockville Centre, we continue to put our heart and soul into efforts to make sure that abusive incidents of any kind are nonexistent in our parishes, schools and entities.

Suggested Reading for middle school youngsters, teachers and parents.

Wonder

By R.J. Palacio

Auggie Pullman is 10 yrs old.

Because of an extreme facial deformity, he has never been able to attend a mainstream school. He is about to start 5th grade in a local, neighborhood school. This is a story of

remarkable change for himself and his classmates. The bullying and cruelty that morph into kindness and respect will inspire readers of all ages.

Publisher: Random House Children’s Books. Published: 2/14/2012

Sexual Abuse of Children: 10 Years of Hard– Earned Knowledge Deacon Bernard Nojadera, Director

USCCB Secretariat for the Protection of Children and Young People With 2012, the Catholic Church looks back on a decade of learning about a problem which may be decades or centuries old: the sexual abuse of minors by those who would mentor them.

It is not about the offender, the institution or anyone’s reputation. It is about helping the child.

People can learn. In the 10 years since the establishment of the Charter we have moved from disbelief to acThe crisis in the Church tion. We have learned that in the United States reached a head in 2002, when what once seemed unbelievable is, unfortunately, credinewspaper coverage nationble and must be faced. Trainwide highlighted the exising, reference checks, backtence of this horrific crime and moral travesty. We know ground evaluations now that others, including some sports organizations and • other groups where adults mentor youth, have yet to confront this crisis within their own ranks.

In the United States, the Catholic Church adopted a plan to address the issue called the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. It has spent billions of dollars on settlements, safe environment education, and background checks to do all it can to prevent the abuse of children in its care. We have come to some understanding of how to address the problem, gaining knowledge that can benefit more than the Catholic Church.

Some of what we’ve learned: The guiding principle when confronting child sexual is to remember that it is most of all about the person who was abused.

are a normal part of parish life to keep children safe.

Sexual abuse of a minor is a sickness that can be contained through vigilance but will not disappear. Incidents of sexual abuse are still occurring in the one place that ought to be the safest place. We cannot let our guard down. The work is not finished.

Critical situations impel people and institutions to change.

We have seen the culture of our parishes and schools evolve. People now accept that child sexual abuse exists and are willing to help stop it from occurring. They no longer assume someone else will take care of it.

Child abuse is a reality society must confront. No institution is immune from it. Learning to respond to the victim of abuse is the first job of any institution, community or family.

The court of public opinion holds institutional leaders to a high standard. Leaders who forgo an immediate and appropriate response to abuse of a child do so at their own peril. There is hardly any other issue which evokes such intolerance as not acting in the face of child sexual abuse.

Parents are willing to step up and make sure parishes and schools are following policies and procedures to protect children. With this critical issue, few people reply, “I just don’t have the time to get involved.”

The task of protecting children can be shared. Clergy, employees, volunteers, parents and teachers realize that bystanders can be their allies in protecting children.

Child sexual abuse is a hard topic to discuss, but training adults to protect children has given the topic a forum where the uncomfortable reality can be discussed.

Victims of child sexual abuse can heal and live productive lives.

Steps that help bring them toward healing include seriously listening to their stories and expressing profound sorrow for what they have endured. As awful as the experience has been for the person, there is hope, a gift of grace from a loving God.

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Remain calm.

Allow the child to tell the story without interruption.

Reassure the child. No blame.

Support the child. He or she has done the right thing in telling you.

Reinforce safety.

Do not criticize the alleged abuser.

Report the abuse to local law enforcement.

Let law enforcement do the investigation.

Special Phone Line for REPORTING ALLEGATIONS of SEXUAL ABUSE

by Church Personnel and Volunteers Caption describing picture or graphic.

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516-594-9063

Office for the Protection of Children and Young People DIOCESE OF ROCKVILLE CENTRE 516-678-5800 ext 573

The “How to Keep Fuzzie Safe” program is a toolkit for parents and teachers to help present safety instructions to children.

The booklet is an age appropriate owners’ manual for children (pre-school and nursery) on how to keep “Fuzzie” safe. By doing so, children learn about their own personal responsibility and helpful safety skills.

Parents, it is never too early or too late to start this important conversation with your child.

Happy parenting!