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 Safe Environment 

Child and Youth Protection

Churches, schools, and youth organizations must ensure that children and youth who worship, study, or participate in activities sponsored by a parish can do so in the safest and most secure setting possible. Parents and caretakers have the right to ask these institutions if they meet the requirements of the Charter before they allow their children to become involved with them.

An effective safe environment program will have the following components:

  • A code of conduct for clergy and for any other paid personnel and volunteers in positions of trust who have regular contact with children and young people.
  • Training for all adults who work with children that consists of:
    • Signs an adult may see in a child who is abused
    • Signs an adult may see in a person who abuses children
    • What actions an adult should take when they believe child abuse of any kind may be occurring
    • The laws and policies regarding the reporting of child abuse
A training program for children that includes age appropriate materials pertaining to personal safety that conforms to Catholic teachings

Safe Environment Continuing Education  

The focus for this year's continuing education for the Safe Environment program is, Peer to Peer Abuse.  One piece that was discussed was the topic of bullying.  

 

Bullying involves a pattern of aggressive behavior, in which one peer engages in the unprovoked, intentional harm or invoking of fear in the other.  This behavior is repeated over a period of time.  Bullying involves an imbalance of power within an interpersonal relationship.  Bullying is not normal childhood behavior. Bullying has significant negative consequences for the target, the bully, and society.

 

Warning Signs - changes in mood or behavior, sleep disturbances, avoidance of school, parish, or other peer activities,  changes in academic performance, taking a long "illogical" route to and from school/church/other activities, few reported friendships, requests to change schools, "drop out" of religious education or other activities, unexplained injuries, or damaged property. 

 

What I can do - Become informed for the warning signs of abuse in peer relationships.  Work collaboratively with your parish and school to structure safe environments.  Educate your children about the characteristics of right relationships, signs of risk, and what to do if they are being bullied.  Model appropriate behavior.  Set clear expectations for your child's behavior toward others and talk about what to do when others are bullying or being bullied.