- The Nature of the Problem
- Responding to the Problem
- Reporting Abuse
- Policies
- Training
- Resources
- Did You Know...
- I Will Appoint Over You Shepherds After My Own Heart
- USCCB Audit Report
General Policies on Safe Environment Taining
Effective July 1, 2005 (Revised August 20, 2007)
In 2002, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops adopted its Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Since then, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has been adopting policies concerning these commitments, assisting parishes in establishing Safeguard the Children Parish Committees and safe environment programs. Following are the General Policies on Safe Environment Training.
Safe Environment Training for Clergy
It is required that all clergy who are active in any ministry for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles complete the VIRTUS Protecting God's Children™ Program for Adults training or an equivalent child sexual abuse prevention training approved by the Vicar for Clergy and the Office of Safeguard the Children. This requirement includes the Cardinal, bishops, all priests and deacons (whether an Archdiocesan priest or member of a Religious Order) with faculties in the Archdiocese, as well as seminarians, deacon candidates and any clergy who wish to have a short-term assignment in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Safe Environment Training for Adults
Concurrent with beginning any activity in a parish or parish school, all parish and school volunteers, teachers, staff or other paid personnel who work in any capacity with or around children, the elderly or special needs persons, will be required to participate in the VIRTUS program or an equivalent safe environment training program approved by the Archdiocese. This includes parish/parish school staff and volunteers including principals, teachers, Directors of Religious Education, secretaries, catechists, parent helpers, ushers, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, lectors, etc. The goal is to have all adults learn how to help stop child sexual abuse before it happens. Most parishes have persons who have been trained as VIRTUS facilitators. If a parish does not have a VIRTUS facilitator, the parish should contact the Archdiocesan Office of Safeguard the Children for information on training.
The VIRTUS training was introduced by the Archdiocese in early 2004. More than 40,000 persons had been trained as of March 1, 2006. Parishes are encouraged to invite public school, law enforcement, social service and othe religious groups in their communities to participate in the local parish or school training programs in order to share fully in the Archdiocese's commitment to providing safe environments for all children. Parishes should keep a copy of the certificates of completion of VIRTUS on file for each person who has been trained. Questions concerning VIRTUS can be addressed to Joan Vienna, Coordinator, Office of Safeguard the Children at 213 637 7227.
Safe Environment Training for Children and Youth
Each school and religious education program must establish an ongoing safe environment training program for the children at its site. Home-based materials must be provided to all parents to help them understand and support their children's education regarding child sexual abuse. The approved programs include Good-Touch/Bad-Touch® and VIRTUS® Teaching Touching Safety (Mandated September 1, 2006).
Good-Touch/Bad-Touch® is being implemented in Grades K-9 in Catholic elementary schools throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The program is designed to be age-appropriate, to support children in understanding occasions of abuse, and to give them confidence in reporting and asserting themselves in situations where they feel unsafe.
VIRTUS® Teaching Touching Safety is a K-12 program being implemented in religious education programs and Catholic schools. This program is a vehicle through which parents, teachers, catechists and youth ministers give children and young people the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them.
The Archdiocesan Office of Safeguard the Children will work with principals at the schools and Directors of Religious Education in the parishes to establish these programs. During the 2007-2008 year, training is expected to reach most of the children in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Questions concerning this program can be forwarded to Sister Mary Elizabeth Galt, B.V.M., Chancellor, Coordinator of Children's Programs at 213 637 7460.
