Spring 2018 | cbservices.org

Christian Brothers Services
Risk Factor
Inside This Issue:
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Child Abuse
Prevention,
Then and Now

The world has changed considerably in the last 20 years. Many of the things we take for granted today, such as smart phones and computer tablets did not exist in 1998.

One unfortunate constant through the years has been the existence of child abuse. However, just as the ways we communicate have changed and improved, the methods we use to protect our children from abuse have also changed from the previous generation. Now more than ever, abuse prevention is on all our minds as we strive to protect our children and minimize risk to our organizations.

Twenty years ago, there was very little proactive risk management when it came to child abuse protection, and the steps that were taken were not comprehensive. Safe environment structures for children were limited and inconsistent. Routine background checks and screenings for employees and volunteers who worked with children in ministries were not conducted.

Things changed for the Catholic Church in 2002 with the creation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Charter was a response by the Church to the child abuse scandal faced by the Boston Archdiocese. Since its inception, the Charter has been a significant tool that guides dioceses in creating systemic safe environments for children. Since the Charter came into being through 2016, 18,869 victim-survivors have come forward, showing there is substantial, tangible and consistent evidence that the Church has worked diligently to be a better protector of children.

Training for your Organization

Safe environment efforts now span the U.S. and beyond. This has occurred because people and organizations have committed to being protectors of children.

Perhaps the most significant step your organization can take to prevent child abuse is mandated abuse prevention training for everyone from the top administrators to the maintenance staff and volunteers. Since 2002, more than 3 million adult Catholics have participated in child abuse prevention training.

The goal of the training is two-fold: to prevent abuse from happening in the first place by the measures you take, and teaching people how to respond immediately and correctly if there is a suspicion or concern.

Among other things, training helps people who deal with children recognize and maintain proper boundaries, and ensure their actions and behavior are transparent. Training will help people to communicate their concerns about questionable behavior they see in others and to keep communicating if it appears nothing is being done.

Hiring Practices and Background Checks

In the past, people who volunteered to work with the children in our missions were welcomed unquestionably, and we appreciated all the extra help we could get. Today, while the help of volunteers is still much appreciated, those volunteers must go through a thorough background check to protect our children and safeguard our organizations from litigation and scandal.

In addition to volunteers, every new hire should have a background check. Background checks must be completed before adults begin working or volunteering with children. A comprehensive background check includes:

  • State and federal criminal history check using the individual’s name
  • State and federal criminal history check using the individual’s fingerprints
  • Child abuse registry check (this may also be known as the Child Protection Index)
  • Sex offender registry check

While background checks are necessary, they are not foolproof. They cannot be the only safeguard used against abusers. The abuser might have never been caught by law enforcement, or an incident may not have appeared on the report. In these instances, the training that people receive can make all the difference, as abuse training can help people recognize the red flags and behaviors of an abuser.

In the hiring process, face-to-face interviews are an important method to gauge how a potential employee or volunteer acts and whether that person would be a good fit for your organization. Conduct reference checks for anyone who will be dealing with children. These reference checks should include family members.

Internet Concerns

The internet can be a great resource for employees but is also a favorite avenue for child abusers. Your organization should establish strict computer, internet and email systems usage policies. Employees and volunteers should be made aware of the policies and sign user compliance agreements. These agreements require users of the organization’s computer resources to recognize that emails sent via the company email system should not contain content that is deemed offensive. This includes the use of vulgar or harassing language/images. The agreement should also state that all sites and downloads may be monitored and/or blocked.

Reporting Abuse

If you suspect a child is a victim of abuse or neglect, follow your organizations reporting policy. This may require you to report your concerns to Child Protection Services in your state.

If a child approaches you and reports abuse, it is important to:

  • Stay calm
  • Listen carefully
  • Don't act shocked or upset
  • Don't blame or be judgmental

Be sure to tell the child that:

  • You believe him or her
  • He or she did the right thing in telling you
  • He or she is not to blame for what happened
  • You must tell someone who can stop the abuse

Christian Brothers Services Risk Pooling Trust members are encouraged to find out more about the steps they can take to prevent child abuse. The CBS webinar "20 Years of Child Abuse Prevention: Then and Now" is available on demand at www.cbservices.org/webinars.php.