|
Erin Neil, Director of the Office of Safe Environments,
offers a periodic update on the ongoing implementation of the
Safe Environment Initiative in the Diocese of Bridgeport, launched
in June 2003.
July 2008
Focus on Internet Safety
On April 29, to close our observance of Child Abuse Awareness
and Prevention month, the Office of Safe Environments, together
with the Health and Safety Committee overseen by Marie Keogh,
director of emergency services, hosted an Internet Safety presentation
conducted by New Haven F.B.I. Supervisory Special Agent Tom Lawler.
This presentation helped to raise our awareness of the problem
of Internet crimes, with special attention on crimes involving
children and crimes involving Internet fraud. It was alarming
to learn that, in Connecticut, approximately one person every
week is arrested for Internet crimes.
Who are the most at risk online? While anyone using the Internet
may be at risk for their personal safety or fraud, those who are
unaware of the risks are the MOST vulnerable. Kids often feel
as if they are anonymous online and are more likely to engage
in conversations and risk taking that they may not regularly take
in person. Adults are cautioned to check with the Better Business
Bureau (www.bbb.org)
first before falling for any "once in a lifetime opportunity"
or any "get rich quick" offer.
Many adults in our state become victims of Internet fraud. Approximately
12 complaints involving Internet fraud are reported weekly to
the New Haven FBI.
Internet Safety Tips for Parents
The Number One rule on Internet safety is always to keep the computer
out of a child's bedroom and to supervise Internet use in a public
area of the home during scheduled times.
Parents should stay updated on the current threats to children,
and an excellent resource is www.virtusonline.org where new topics
on child sexual abuse prevention are posted monthly.
Tell your child never to post identifying information or arrange
to meet with someone they met online. Even a child's e-mail address
may give away identifying information about them. And caution
children never to make threats or get into fights online, and
never take any photographs and post them.
Cyber-bullying and online harassment are becoming an increasing
problem among children and teenagers. Talk to your child about
appropriate behavior and good manners online just as you would
encourage kind and appropriate communication with those whom they
meet in person. This is called "netiquette."
Parents can install content filters, website filters, virus scans,
firewalls, or keystroke logging software on their home computers.
Parents are strongly encouraged to check their child's web browser
history.
If you identify inappropriate content directed toward a minor
online, you should contact your local police or the FBI office
in New Haven at (203) 777-6311. Don't delete it!
Other recommended resources on Internet safety and preventing
crimes against children: www.missingkids.com.
This website comes highly recommended by the FBI and it contains
free online safety programs for children and youth of all ages.
April 2008
April is National Child Abuse
Prevention Month: Wear a Blue Ribbon!
On April 4, 1983 in the wake of rising reports of child abuse
in the United States, President Ronald Reagan declared April as
National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Since then, child abuse
and neglect awareness activities have been promoted across the
country during April of each year.
In 1989, a concerned grandmother, Bonnie Finney, of Norfolk, VA,
took a stand against child abuse after experiencing the death of
her grandson. She tied a symbolic blue ribbon to her van to encourage
awareness and involvement of everyone in the community to prevent
abuse before it starts. During the past 19 years, the blue ribbon
has become a national symbol of child abuse awareness and prevention
education.
The statistics surrounding child sexual abuse in the United States
are shocking:
- 1 in 5 girls is sexually abused before the age of 18
- 1 in 10 boys is sexually abused before the age of 18
- 1 in 5 children are solicited sexually while on the internet
- An estimated 40 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse
exist in America today
- Approx. 29% of victims are abused by a family member
- Approx. 60% are abused by someone the family knows and trusts
- Only 11% of child sexual abuse is committed by strangers
With the passage of the 2002 U.S. Bishop's Charter for the Protection
of Children and Young People the Catholic Church launched the largest
child sexual abuse prevention campaign in the history of the United
States, training millions of adults and children to recognize early
warning signs of inappropriate behavior in order to prevent abuse
before it starts.
In the Diocese of Bridgeport, the VIRTUS Protecting God's Children
program is used to train all Clergy, Employees, Volunteers, and
even our vendors and Independent Contractors. A trained counselor
from Catholic Charities delivers the Child Lures Think First and
Stay Safe Program to our elementary school students and the Personal
Safety Training program for High School Youth which emphasizes internet
safety and how to make a report of suspected abuse to proper authorities.
Download
(in Microsoft Word) Parish Resources for Child Abuse Awareness Month,
including bulletin announcements and prayer petitions
During the month of April, The Office of Safe Environments is sponsoring
and promoting a variety of critical child safety programs, free
of charge. Learn what you can do to protect children from the pain
and suffering from abuse because one victim is simply one too many
(spaces are limited, please call early to reserve a space):
VIRTUS Protecting God's Children
Download
updated list of dates, places, and times for training in Microsoft
Word Format
VIRTUS for New Facilitators
Friday, April 11, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Become certified as a volunteer
facilitator to teach the VIRTUS program in your own school or parish.
This is a wonderful opportunity to make a difference in your community
and in the life of a child! English speaking and Bi-Lingual Facilitators
are needed. Contact Erin Neil for details: 416-1406 or email eneil@diobpt.org.
THE CHILD LURES PREVENTION PROGRAM
(Think First & Stay Safe)
Friday, April 18, 2-3 p.m., Catholic Center. Learn how to talk to
children and pre-teens in a non-threatening way about child sexual
abuse prevention and internet safety For all parents with children
in K-8. Contact Tara Mingione for details: (203) 416-1327 or e-mail
tmingione@ccfc-ct.org.
BULLYING AWARENESS PROGRAM FOR PARENTS
Friday, April 25, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Catholic Center.
Learn about the problem of bullying, cyber-bullying and school violence.
Learn the basics and identify early warning signs. Contact Erin
Neil for details: 416-1406 or email: eneil@diobpt.org.
F.B.I. SPECIAL AGENT TOM LAWLER
speaking on "The Dark Side of the Internet": Tuesday, April 29,
2-3 p.m., Catholic Center. Learn what you need to know about Sexual
predators on the internet, the risks associated with Social Networking
sites, and the latest in frauds and scams on the internet from F.B.I.
Special Agent Tom Lawlor.
October 2007
Halloween Safety Tips
As your little ghosts and goblins set out for the neighborhoods
in search of candy and special treats, please keep in mind some
important safety tips that will help make this Halloween as safe
as possible for them.
- When trick or treating or attending parties at local halls,
haunted houses, and shopping centers, remember that nothing
is safer than your supervision. If you have made a decision
to permit your child to trick or treat in your neighborhood
and you will not be going with them, it is important that your
child goes with a group and that an older teenage sibling is
with them at all times.
- Let children know that they should never go into the homes
or up to an approaching car to get treats or candy, no matter
what the person says. Practice a few scenarios with them to
be sure they understand. Children should always wait until they
get home to sample the candy so that you may inspect everything.
- Set a route and reinforce that they must stick to this route
and stay in well-lit areas.
- Place emergency identification tags inside clothing and have
your child carry a fully-charged cell phone and a flashlight
with new batteries at all times.
- Costumes should have large holes for eyes that give your child
full view of his or her surroundings. Your child should be visible
to others. Reflective tape placed on costumes or candy bags
is an inexpensive way to make sure that your child is visible
to traffic.
- Finally, review the safety tips you and your child learned
in the Child Lures Prevention Think First & Stay Safe Program.
Come to the Halloween Safety Program
October 29
There will be a special safety program held at the Catholic Center,
Bridgeport, for parents and grandparents to view the Think First
& Stay Safe Program on Monday, October 29, from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Parents
will learn to talk with their child or teenager about early warning
signs in unsafe adults, abduction prevention, and sexual abuse prevention
in an age-appropriate and non-threatening way. Parent safety guides
will be provided to you at no cost.
To reserve a space at this safety program, call 416-1406 or e-mail
eneil@diobpt.org.
Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
June 2007
Five years since the landmark Dallas
Charter, the Diocese of Bridgeport maintains a Safe Environment
though vigilance and hard work.
May 2007
2006 Compliance Audit Released
Last month, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office for
Child and Youth Protection released the results of the 2006 diocesan
compliance audits on the Charter
for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Charter,
which our own Bishop William Lori helped to draft, was issued by
the bishops in 2002 to reach out to victims of abuse and to create
Safe Environments for children and adults alike. The 2006 audits
were focused on those dioceses that were found to be non-compliant
during the 2005 audits, and for a few dioceses that requested it.
Here in the Diocese of Bridgeport, we were found to be in full compliance
with all articles of the Charter for three consecutive years. We
are scheduled to undergo our fourth full onsite compliance audit
this coming fall.
The Gavin Group, Inc., is the Boston-based firm that conducts the
diocesan audits. Bill Gavin, president, observed in a letter this
month to the National Review Board:
"Accomplishments have been many and impressive, and demonstrate
the willingness of the Bishops and Eparches to do all possible to
bring peace and closure to the suffering of past victims and to
prevent any further incidents of abuse."
For more information and to view the full audit report, click
here.
Not a Current Occurrence
It is clear from the compliance audit that the incidence of sexual
abuse of minors by clergy has significantly declined and is a rare
occurrence. Reports of abuse have decreased within the past several
years, and most reports are of incidents that occurred many years
ago.
In the Diocese of Bridgeport, abuse of minors by clergy is not a
current occurrence. We have received no reports of abuse by clergy
occurring since before the Safe Environment program was founded
in 2003. In fact, there has been no report of any single incident
occurring even in the 1990's or the 2000's.
The results of the audits demonstrate that outreach to victims and
child protection efforts provided by the Catholic Church remain
strong and unmatched. Our efforts to protect children here in the
Diocese of Bridgeport are comprehensive. The protection of children
remains a priority in all of our schools, parishes, and programs.
By the Numbers
At the end of April, we held our 1,000th VIRTUS Protecting God's
Children training session on the awareness and prevention of abuse.
In addition to VIRTUS, we have held hundreds of Child Lures Prevention
programs for parents, children, and youth. This mean that more than
4,000 hours of child abuse prevention training that has taken place
right here in the Diocese of Bridgeport in less than four years.
In the State of Connecticut, the Catholic Church has trained a combined
total of more than 140,000 adults and youth. Truly, the Church's
efforts to protect children are remarkable!
February 2007
Think First and Stay Safe
The Think First and Stay Safe Program
continues in all Catholic elementary schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport.
Fifteen out of 34 elementary schools have completed a thirdyear-
in-a-row of Safe Environment training for students.
Tara Mingione, a counselor with Catholic Charities, is the Safe
Environment educator for all students enrolled in the elementary
schools and the high schools. Every year, Tara reaches out to well
over 11,000 students in grades K-12 on the importance of personal
safety - and students are responding.
At Saint James Elementary School in Stratford, three seventh- grade
students were assigned a drama project early this year. On their
own initiative they decided to use their assignment as an opportunity
to promote safety and to teach other students what they are learning
from Safe Environment training. One student played a student walking
home from school, while another portrayed an unsafe adult who used
a common lure or trick in order to get the child come close to the
vehicle where a child could be grabbed. The students used an iPod
as their lure. The student demonstrated that, by taking two steps
back, running in the other direction, and telling a trusted adult
immediately, it could help him or her stay out of harm's way.
Various Scenarios
The students are taking this program very seriously. Their questions
are thoughtful and contain various scenarios, such as, "What should
I do if I am lost in a store?" and "How can I tell if a person is
safe?" Tara teaches students that they can tell a person is safe
by how they act and what they say, but not by their age, gender,
or appearance.
It is clear from the student's level of questioning and by students'
conversations that parents are making safety training a priority
in the homes. Students are encouraged to practice their refusal
skills at home by role playing the different types of lures with
their parents.
High School Student Training
Personal Safety Training for high school students will be conducted
again in all Catholic high schools this spring. Tara's presentation
will include updates and lessons on Internet safety, a discussion
on safe and responsible use of social networking sites, and cyber-bullying
prevention. For more information on these topics, please visit ChildLuresPrevention.com.
June 2006
Three Years of Accomplishments!
June 2006 marks three years since the new Sexual Misconduct Policy
was issued and the Safe Environment Program in the Diocese of
Bridgeport was launched. Since 2003, we have held 850 child abuse
prevention trainings for adults in seven languages using the VIRTUS
program, and over 250 parent, children, and youth training sessions
using Child Lures Prevention. We also hold routine in-services
on mandated reporting, conducted by the Connecticut Department
of Children and Family Service.
The Diocese of Bridgeport has trained over 40,000 clergy, employees,
volunteers, parents, high school youth, and children on abuse
prevention, Internet safety, and reporting requirements. We have
reached thousands more through informational brochures, online
continuing education, and safety guides sent home to families.
Child safety materials and information on how to make a report
of suspected abuse are available in every school, parish, and
program.
Criminal background checks, awareness training, the Code of Conduct
and the Sexual Misconduct Policy have all worked together to make
our Diocese a safer place for children and adults.
Is It Working?
A participant of a 2003 VIRTUS training recently asked, "How do
we know if our efforts are working?"
One measure of a prevention program is a decline in new incidents
of abuse. Since the implementation of the Safe Environment Program
in 2003, there have been no new allegations of sexual abuse of
a minor by a member of the clergy, a lay employee, or a lay volunteer.
Another measure is the reporting of early warning signs or concerns
before they become incidents of abuse. VIRTUS and the Child Lures
Prevention Program educate adults and youth to be proactive and
report concerns or unsafe situations as soon as they occur. We
have great success to report in this area. The Safe Environment
Office receives regular reports by volunteers, parents, clergy
and even members of the community of their concerns or about unsafe
situations in their environment. We have even received reports
from small children who go through the Child Lures Program. Adults
and children trained to detect and report early signs of a problem
help us to respond early before a serious situation can occur.
Background checks have proven effective at screening out individuals
with crimes against children in their past from working in our
diocese. In recent months, background checks have turned up no
hits of any person with a conviction of a sex crime or crime against
children in their past.
Finally, the Diocese of Bridgeport has undergone three external
compliance audits since 2003 with great success.
We may never be able to stop every incident of abuse, but we know
for certain that we are lessening the chance of it occurring,
going unnoticed, or going unreported.
For more information on the Safe
Environments Program, contact Erin Neil: 416-1406 or 416-1301.
|