Keeping Our Promise to Protect
Child and Youth Protection
Promoting a Safe Environment for Children
The document is a response to the sexual abuse crisis in the church and is their “Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal.”
In order to protect the faithful in the future, Article 12 of the Charter states:
Dioceses/eparchies will establish ‘Safe Environment’ programs. They will cooperate with parents, civil authorities, educators, and community organizations to provide education and training for children, youth, parents, ministers, educators, and others about ways to make and maintain a safe environment for children.
Dioceses/eparchies will 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 sexual abuse.”
This guideline, which mandates that all dioceses create a safe environment for children and young people who pray, study and worship in our schools and churches, is the basis for our diocesan safe environment programs.
There are four focus areas:
Our Commitment to a Safe Environment
The Diocese of Savannah is committed to providing safe environments and fostering continuous improvement in every organization that sponsors activities and/or provides services to children and youth.
Through a series of workshops, educational materials, classroom instruction and background checks, the Diocese is:
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Increasing awareness of potentially harmful situations through the VIRTUS training workshops.
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Empowering adults and children to act before abuse occurs through the Child Lures Prevention for Catholic School and Religious Education students and in Youth Ministry with an Inter-generational Program for families.
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Evaluating background checks for relevance to the employee’s or volunteer’s position.
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Implementing a Pastoral Code of Conduct which outlines acceptable and unacceptable behaviors for all clergy, employees and volunteers.
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Providing continuing education through the VIRTUS Web site.
Your Role in Creating Safe Environments
As an adult you play a vital role in creating safe environments for children. To ensure the safety of everyone, especially those at-risk:
Make
Allow
Prevent
Never
Meet
Always
Be alert
Teach
Education Vigilance
Be Alert, Be Aware
Indicators of Abuse
Knowledge and vigilance are crucial to creating safe environments. Be attentive to any radical changes in behavior in a child which might indicate abuse of some kind. Some of the indicators are:
- Exhibits a sudden change in their behavior.
- Becomes moody or aggressive.
- Loses interest in school or their grades drop.
- Stops taking care of their personal hygiene.
One or more signs of abuse may mean that the child is experiencing some kind of problem. A trusted adult should talk with the child about her/his feelings and concerns. Now is the time to start talking to your children. You want them to know they can share anything with you and you will still love them.
Predatory Behaviors
Be aware of warning signs and inappropriate behaviors on the part of adults, who:
- Prefer to be alone with children.
- Discourage other adults from participating or monitoring activities.
- Give expensive gifts.
- Use bad language or tell dirty jokes.
- Think the rules don’t apply to them.
- Engage in excessive or inappropriate touching, like wrestling/tickling.
- Show pornography to children.
- Allow children to do what parents don’t allow them to do.
Basic Safety Rules for Children
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Check First
Children should always check first with the adult in charge before going anywhere or making any changes in plans. -
Go With Friends
Children are safer when they are not alone. -
It’s My Body
This message empowers children to set personal limits. They learn that no one has the right to touch the parts of their body that are covered by a bathing suit, except parents when they are helping them bathe, or a doctor or nurse when they are sick. They have the right to resist inappropriate touching. -
Tell a Trusted Adult
Children should be encouraged to ask a trusted adult for help anytime they feel threatened
Reporting Abuse
To report that a child is being harmed or at risk of being harmed, contact your county Department of Family and Children Services or Sheriff’s Department.
To report an allegation about someone in Church ministry within the Diocese of Savannah follow these three steps:
1. Notify the appropriate supervisor.2. Call the appropriate civil authorities.
3. Call our diocesan Victim’s Assistance Hotline at 888-357-5330.
Safe Environment Director
Joan B. Altmeyer
912-201-4074
Toll-Free Hotline: 888-357-5330
Diocesan Human Resources Director
912-201-4071