Entrusted To Our Care

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Entrusted To Our Care

• Personnel and Volunteer Training
• How to Protect Our Children From Sexual Abuse

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• PRAYER!

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Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

• The Catholic Diocese of Spokane is committed to
  providing a safe environment for all children in
  our care. In order to effectively facilitate this
  safe environment, all personnel and volunteers
  are required to undergo Child Sexual Abuse
  Prevention Training and to become familiar with
  our Diocesan Code of Conduct.

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Preventing Child Sexual Abuse

• The Diocese is also committed to providing a
  Personal Safety education program to all children
  attending our Catholic schools and religious
  education programs and ongoing sexual abuse
  prevention training for all of their
  parents/guardians.

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Training Outcomes Participants will

• Identify signs and symptoms of abuse
• Describe sexual predator characteristics
• Describe how to properly respond to disclosure
• Describe the reporting process
• Have a basic understanding of the Diocesan
  Administrative Policy for Responding to
  Allegations of Sexual Abuse and Inappropriate
  Behavior By Church Personnel
• Have a basic understanding of the Diocesan Code
  of Conduct.

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What is child sexual abuse?

• Child sexual abuse is the use of a child for
  sexual purposes by an adult or older, more
  powerful person, including an older child. Child
  sexual abuse is called incest when it happens
  between family members.

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There are many forms of sexual abuse that do not
involve touching the child

• Asking a child to touch someone elses private
  parts
• Exposing oneself to a child
• Making obscene phone calls to a child
• Taking photographs of a child for sexual purposes
• Communicating with a child in a sexual way via
  e-mail or the Internet
• Showing a child sexually explicit materials or
  making a child watch others engaged in sexual acts

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COMMON FACTS ABOUT CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE

• Boys, as well as girls are at risk.
• Victims can be of any age. Young children are
  especially at risk.
• Incest and sexual assault are problems in all
  socio-economic classes.
• Sexual abuse crosses racial, educational and
  religious beliefs.
• Children very rarely make up stories about sexual
  abuse.
• Offenders often blame the victim for provoking
  the sexual assault.
• The offender, not the victim, is at fault for
  violating the rights of another person.

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• WHAT WE FEAR
• A dangerous weird stranger
• Isolated incident
• Out of the blue
• Rare and extreme
• A violent attack

• WHAT IS MORE LIKELY TO
• HAPPEN
• A person they know, a relative or friend of
  the family, is more often the offender (85 of
  the cases)
• Over and over again
• A situation that develops over a period of
  time (grooming behavior)
• Frequent incidents. There are many forms of
  sexual assault.
• Subtle, rather than extreme force.

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Theres a New Stranger Danger!

• Many predators are now scanning personal social
  network sites (exmp. My Space) to find their next
  victims. Young adolescents can be easy prey to
  these very devious predators.

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SEXUAL PREDATOR CHARACTERISTICS
BE AWARE

• of family patterns many times child abuse in
  families is inter-generational. The abused
  becomes the abuser.
• of why an individual wants to work with
  children many abusers want to work with
  children because they are sweet, innocent or
  non-judgmental. Many times the child-focused
  adult wants to work with children to fulfill his
  need for love, affection and control.
• of the individual who spends most of his
  leisure time participating in child activities
  or spends all free time with children.

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• of the individual who has a preference or
  reservations about working with a particular age
  group. Many times sexual abusers have
  preference for a particular aged child. Some
  have a preference for a certain gender, physical
  trait, personality characteristics.
• of an individual who has a need to control.
  Listen carefully to the individual and note
  signs that the individual may use psychological
  abuse to discipline.
• inappropriate behaviors which demonstrate a
  lack of respect for children and adults
  feelings and thoughts.

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• of the individual who advocates keeping
  secrets. Individuals should be aware of the
  difference between secrets and surprises.
• of the individual who is too anxious, too
  charming, too perfect and too good to be true.
  They probably are.

Information adapted from the YMCA Abuse Training
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Common Grooming TechniquesThe sexual abuser

• Begins the grooming process with a trust-building
  period.
• Gains the friendship of a child
• Slowly breaks down the victims guard against
  inappropriate touching and sexual contact
• May threaten the victim in order to keep the
  secret
• Seeks out potential victims who have low
  self-esteem
• Gains the trust of the victims parent(s)
• Invites the victim on overnights and gives the
  victim gifts

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This is our secret!

• It is very important for the predator to keep
  the child from telling! As a result, the child is
  often threatened
• If you tell, no one will believe you and you
  will be in serious trouble!
• If you tell, I will kill you!

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SIGNS OF SEXUAL ABUSE
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the
child

• Has difficulty walking or sitting
• Suddenly refuses to change for gym or to
  participate in physical activities
• Demonstrates bizarre, sophisticated, or unusual
  sexual knowledge or behavior
• Becomes pregnant or contracts an STD,
  particularly if under age of 14
• Runs away, or
• Reports sexual abuse by a parent or another
  adult caregiver

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THE CHILD

• Shows sudden changes in behavior or school
  performance
• Has learning problems that cannot be attributed
  to specific physical or psychological causes
• Is always watchful, as though preparing for
  something bad to happen
• Lacks adult supervision
• Is overly compliant, an overachiever, or too
  responsible
• Comes to school early, stays late, and does not
  want to go home

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THE CHILD may

• Exhibit Signs of Stress
• Experience Insomnia
• Experience Depression
• Exhibit Seductive Behavior
• Become Passive or Withdrawn
• Make References to an Adult Friend

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SIGNS OF SEXUAL ABUSE
Consider the possibility of sexual abuse when the
parent or caregiver

• Is unduly protective of the child, severely
  limits the child's contact with other children,
  especially of the opposite sex
• Is secretive and isolated, or
• Describes marital difficulties involving family
  power struggles or sexual relations

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FAMILY INDICATORS

• Extreme paternal dominance and restrictiveness
• Family isolated from community and support
  systems emotionally and/or physically
• Lack of boundaries
• Marked role reversal between mother and child
• History of above for either parent

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SPECIAL VULNERABILITY

• Lets be special friends
• Appeals to
• Lonely Child
• Troubled Child

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SOCIALIZATION

• Be polite
• Sometimes it may be OK not to be polite.
• Dont tattle
• Sometimes you must tell.
• Mind the baby-sitter
• Sometimes baby-sitters are abusers.

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IGNORANCE

• Lack of personal safety information

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Education is the Key!

• Children who have had Personal Safety education
  are more likely to report that they are being
  sexually abused.

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Education is the Key!

• Adults who have been trained about child sexual
  abuse can be the eyes and ears within our
  communities that will be sensitive to possible
  child abuse and , as a result, will make our
  communities safer for our children.

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THE BIG THREE SYMPTOMS

• Knowledge that is too sophisticated for age group
• Sexual behavior with peers or adults
• Statement from child (Direct Disclosure)

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SYMPTOMS
Any Clusters of Behaviors/Symptoms may be a
warning signal.
CAUTION
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SOME VICTIMS SHOW
NO
SIGNS, SYMPTOMS OR BEHAVIORS
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Victims may

• Experience periodic flashbacks of the abuse
• Develop extreme anger towards those who did not
  prevent or stop the abuse
• Engage in self-mutilation
• Experience difficulty with trust
• Develop overwhelming feelings of guilt
• Experience mood swings, behavioral episodes, and
  intense anger

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LONG-TERM EFFECTS

• Low self-esteem
• Guilt and shame
• Depression
• Difficulty in trusting relationships
• Loneliness
• Destructive acting-out
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Eating disorders
• Sexual dysfunction
• Difficulty in parenting
• Confused family relations
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

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Responding to Disclosure

• Remain Calm
• Reassure the child by saying Im glad you told
  me. Its not your fault. I am always here for
  you.
• Report the disclosure to your supervisor, CPS,
  and law enforcement.
• Do NOT question the child or attempt to
  investigate

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School Personnel, Child Care Providers,
Counselors, Healthcare Providers and Others who
Work with Children WASHINGTON STATE LAW

• Reasonable cause to suspect abuse or neglect
• Civil immunity for good faith reporting
• Failure to report gross misdemeanor charge

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CONFIDENTIALITY
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CONTACT

• Child Protective Services (CPS) and
• Law Enforcement

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At the Time of the Report record

• The day and time of your report
• The name of the person who took your report
• The report/case number
• A narrative of what you reported

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MAKING A REPORT

• MADE WITHIN 24 HOURS
• TELEPHONE EARLY IN THE DAY
• CONTACT THE FAMILY

DO NOT
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Discussion Questions

• What is your initial response to this brief
  overview?
• What are some red flags that might alert you to
  possible abuse?
• What are the key things to remember if a child
  discloses a touching problem to you?
• What other questions do you have regarding child
  sexual abuse?

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• BREAK

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www.dioceseofspokane.org

• The Diocesan Administrative Policy for
  Responding to Allegations of Sexual Abuse and
  Inappropriate Behavior By Church Personnel can be
  found on the diocesan website.

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• www.dioceseofspokane.org

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Click on

• A Safe Net for Children and Youth

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The Diocesan Administrative Policy for Responding
to Allegations of Sexual Abuse and Inappropriate
Behavior By Church Personnel

• Preamble
• Diocesan Review Board
• Procedures to be followed in Cases of Sexual
  Abuse of a Minor or Vulnerable Adult Involving
  Church Personnel
• Procedures for Other Instances of Abuse or
  Inappropriate Behavior
• Reporting Suspected Abuse
• Requirements for Education on Issues of Abuse
• Background Checks for New Employees and
  Volunteers
• Background Checks for Ministerial Candidates
• Code of Conduct

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Code of Conduct

• The Diocesan Code of Conduct is contained within
  the Diocesan Administrative Policy for Responding
  to Allegations of Sexual Abuse and Inappropriate
  Behavior By Church Personnel.

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Code of Conduct

• Touching
• Verbal and Nonverbal Communication
• Transportation and Outings
• Relationships
• Drugs and Alcohol
• Environment

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VIDEO

• Entrusted to Our Care
• The Diocesan Code of Conduct

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Discussion Questions

• Why is it important for the Diocese to have a
  Code of Conduct?
• What challenges do you believe the Code of
  Conduct poses for you in your role?
• What questions do you have regarding the Code of
  Conduct?

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Before you leave

• Have you completed and signed a WSP Background
  check permission form or an out of state
  background check permission form?
• Have you completed and signed a disclosure
  statement?
• Have you read and signed a Diocesan Code of
  Conduct form?
• Have you signed the training roster?

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ETS System

• All clergy, employees and volunteers who have
  previously taken the FULL Code of Conduct
  training are required to take an annual on-line
  renewal test. Individuals who have not taken the
  entire training previously will not be permitted
  to take the on-line renewal

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• The annual renewal deadline is October 1st.

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Instructions for Accessing ETS On-Line Testing

• Web address http//ets.dioceseofspokane.org or
  access the site through the Diocesan website by
  choosing from the quick links list (ETS).
• Enter your ID (obtained from your parish,
  school, or other entity)
• Enter the password - Ministry
• Once you enter the site you will be asked to
  confirm who you are. Please be sure the name
  listed is YOU. If yes, hit continue and the
  system will begin with the test.
• If you are not able to finish the test, the next
  time you login the system will begin on the next
  unanswered question.
• Remember to read the Code of Conduct and check
  the appropriate box.

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• After the test is completed, the system will
  automatically log your test scores. The test is
  based on a pass/fail process. If you fail, you
  can retake the test as many times as needed. If
  you pass, the system will update you as compliant
  for training until the next year.

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• CLOSING PRAYER!

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HANDOUTS

• Diocesan Code of Conduct
• Power Point Presentation
• Disclosure Statement
• WSP Background Check Permission Form
• Out of State Background Check Form
• Certificate of Completion
• All Participants must also Sign a Roster