Article 12 of the Bishop's Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted in 2002, revised 2011 states the following:

Dioceses are to maintain “safe environment” programs which the diocesan bishop deems to be in accord with Catholic moral principles. They are to be conducted cooperatively with parents, civil authorities, educators, and community organizations to provide education and training for children, youth, parents, ministers, educators, volunteers, and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children and young people. Dioceses are to make clear to clergy and all members of the community the standards of conduct for clergy and other persons in positions of trust with regard to children.

Safe environment awareness training sessions for adults called Protecting God's Children for Adults are held across the Diocese by VIRTUS-trained Facilitators. This is a special 2-3 hour training that teaches adults in the Catholic community to create safer environments and become part of the solution to prevent child abuse.

Safe environment awareness for children is an essential component of our program. The Diocese of Alexandria is using the VIRTUS Program Touching Safety. This program contains age-appropiate lesson plans pertaining to personal safety, good touch bad touch, and appropiate relationships. This program is not a sex education class.

ADULT TRAINING

UPCOMING DATES:

--> WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 6:00 p.m., ALEXANDRIA--St. Joseph Catholic Center, 4400 Coliseum Blvd.

--> TUESDAY, AUGUST 6, 1:00 p.m., ALEXANDRIA--St. Joseph Catholic Center, 4400 Coliseum Blvd.

Protecting God's Children for Adults safe environment training is required for all clergy, religious, employees, and volunteers who regularly work with chlidren. This training has met with positive responses from parents, clergy, employees, and volunteers from across our Diocese. The training provides adults with awareness of the issues surrounding child sexual abuse and some important steps that we can all take for the protection of children. Adults learn about the warning signs of potential sex offenders and unsafe situations that could place a child or a vulnerable adult at risk of abuse. At these sessions, adults learn how to respond if they should suspect abuse and how to make a report in the State of Louisiana and in the Diocese of Alexandria. Participants are provided with an overview of the Diocese of Alexandria's Code of Pastoral Conduct. They are provided with the diocesan website whereby they may view/download our Diocesan Policy for the Protection of Minors.

To register for the awareness training please go to www.virtusonline.org and select Registration. Then select the Diocese of Alexandria, LA. You will be directed to complete forms and choose appropriate information from drop-down menus; then, choose the date you wish to attend from the current schedule of upcoming sessions in your area. All participants who attend this training will receive a certificate as proof of attendance.

Continuing Education (Ongoing Training):

Continuing Education on abuse prevention is critical in maintaining safe environments into the future. Following the 2-3 hour live awareness training, clergy, employees and volunteers who work directly with children will complete continuing education (ongoing training) online. Continuing education bulletins are provided through VIRTUS once per month. Participants will be prompted via email from VIRTUS to read and acknowledge that they understand the information in the training bulletins and the VIRTUS system will record that the article has been completed. Participants may choose to read the bulletins on a monthly basis or every 2-3 months at their convenience. These articles will keep us updated on current child abuse prevention methods. Those without internet access should be provided with printed copies of the bulletins from their church parish or school office; and, records should be kept in the church or school office for those who maintain their ongoing training compliance this way.

For more information on continuing education, please contact your immediate supervisor at your school or church parish. You may also contact Pam Delrie in the Office of Safe Environment at 318.445.6424 ext.213 or pdelrie [at] diocesealex [dot] org.

Childrens Training

Dear Parents,

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has adopted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People which requires that all dioceses in our nation implement “safe environment programs” to ensure that those who work with our children and young people have appropiate training in providing a safe environment for children and young people in our diocese. The Charter also requires that dioceses train children and young people in areas such as inappropriate touching and relationships and personal safety.

ARTICLE 12. Dioceses/eparchies are to maintain “safe environment” programs which the diocesan/eparchial bishop deems to be in accord with Catholic moral principles. They are to be conducted cooperatively with parents, civil authorities, educators, and community organizations to provide education and training for children, youth, parents, ministers, educators, volunteers, and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children and young people. Dioceses/eparchies are to make clear to clergy and all members of the community the standards of conduct for clergy and other persons in positions of trust with regard to children.

All school age children in our diocese will be trained in Catholic school religion classes or in parish religious education classes.

We have provided our teachers with lesson plans with age-appropriate material pertaining to personal safety to help with the instruction of our youth. The Diocese of Alexandria uses the VIRTUS Program, Touching Safety (www.virtus.org). Our youth will not be expected to be completely knowledgeable about child abuse or laws, but they do need to know what is appropriate and when they should seek assistance from a trusted adult. This program is not a sex education class.

Lesson plans (#1 & #2) for the year 2011-12 are entitled "The Touching Safety Rules" and "Understanding Safe Friends, Safe Adults, and Safe Touches," respectively.

Thank you for your continued support of our ministry in Catholic religious education of and in protecting our youth.

For more information on this program you may contact Pam Delrie, Coordinator for Safe Environment, at pdelrie [at] diocesealex [dot] org (318-445-6424 x 213).