April is Child Abuse Prevention Month

Since 2004, the Office for Safe Environments of the Diocese of Norwich (OSE) has used Virtus, a best practices program designed to help prevent wrongdoing and promote "rightdoing" to empower priests, deacons, ministry leaders, employees and volunteers to be aware of risks and improve the lives of all those interacting with the Church. Currently, the diocese uses the Praesidium Academy, an online training program that provides initial and ongoing training for all adult volunteers and employees, as well as an Abuse Prevention Refresher Course that all adults volunteering and or employed with the diocese are required to take every three years. This past year, the adults employed and or involved at our schools, parishes and ministries took Mandated Reporter Training offered by the State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families (DCF), which will be required every two years. All of these programs provide a foundational understanding of the risks, warning signs and appropriate responses to child sexual abuse. They also highlight preventive strategies and how to implement them.

KATHLEEN D’AMELIO is the director of the Office for Safe Environments and, along with her husband Deacon Dan D’Amelio, is active in her parish.

All volunteers who interact with children and teenagers on a regular basis, as well as all priests, deacons, religious, ministry leaders and employees are required to take this training. To date, more than 19,350 adults have been trained in the programs OSE has offered since 2004. Adults employed in our schools have been fingerprinted and screened through the State of Connecticut, Department of Children and Families, All adult employees and volunteers throughout the diocese have been background checked utilizing National Criminal Database screening and analysis, to include the State of Connecticut Department of Public Safety, multistate court and database searches and DCF background checks and National Sex Offender registry checks.

Yearly, on average, approximately 5,000 children and young people in our diocese receive abuse prevention education from kindergarten through 12th grade with the No Go Tell Program. This curriculum was created to give young people information to keep them safe in everyday life circumstances, at church and school, and to know what to do in circumstances where they may be at risk. The program has been adapted to video and translated to Spanish, so it is accessible and engaging for all of our young people.

The Diocese of Norwich has been audited every year by assigned auditors working with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to document our compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. We have received our letters of compliance each year indicating we are meeting the goals for the protection of our youth and young people and are recognized as compliant by the audit team. Audits are done yearly through documentation provided by parishes, schools and ministries. Every three years, our diocese has an in-person audit with a team assigned by the USCCB.

Anyone wanting to report suspected abuse and/or sexual misconduct in the Diocese of Norwich should call the Diocesan Reporting Line (800.624.7407) and provide basic information about the incident. Then the bishop's delegate for internal investigations and the assistance coordinator work together to create a safe and compassionate environment. They coordinate and provide access to counseling and support for victims affected by sexual misconduct and/or abuse by a priest, deacon, or others who minister, work or volunteer in the Diocese of Norwich to help in the healing process. All clergy, employees and volunteers are informed on a regular basis about the process for reporting suspected abuse.

For more information on the Diocese of Norwich's policies, protocols and training concerning abuse prevention and the protection of children and young people, visit the website of the Office for Safe Environments: NorwichDiocese.org/Safe-Environments