PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN -- SEXUAL ABUSE AWARENESS SESSIONS

(Scroll down for currently scheduled sessions.)

Although the Diocese of Beaumont had been providing child sexual abuse awareness training for adults throughout the previous decade and more, it began a more focused and regular program in October, 2003.  At that time the Diocese contracted with VIRTUS for its PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN Program.

The PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN (PGC) Program educates and trains adults (clergy, religious, teachers, staff, volunteers, and parents) about the dangers of abuse, the warning signs of abuse, the ways to prevent abuse, the methods of properly reporting suspicions of abuse, and responding to allegations of abuse.

Phase 1: 

Oct. 27-28, 2003:  A VIRTUS representative trained a selected group of individuals to be certified facilitators of the PGC Program on the local level.  On Oct. 28-29, 2003:  The VIRTUS representative conducted two PGC training sessions for clergy, parish, school, diocesan, and Catholic Charities personnel.  During the following year, participants received from VIRTUS their bi-weekly on-line training bulletins to supplement the PGC seminar.

Phase 2: 

Beginning Feb. 2004:  Local certified facilitators began presenting the PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN training sessions throughout the diocese for support staff employees, catechists, volunteers, parents, and other interested adults.  Through Nov. 14, 2004, sixty-six (66) adult training sessions had been conducted.

Beginning Oct., 2004 training specifically for parents/guardians and other adults was being provided in the East Texas Catholic and on the diocesan website, both on the Safe Environment pages.  These training articles are designed to provide parents/guardians with more specific language and other tools to help them address personal safety with their children and youth.

Phase 3:

Although in the year 2000 the Catholic Elementary Schools' Counselor started providing sessions on bullying/teasing and anger management for grades K-8 and sexual harassment sessions for grades 7-8, a more formal sexual abuse awareness & prevention program was implemented in Nov., 2004.  To grades 1-3, a "For Pete's Sake-Tell" lesson/video was presented to teach Okay and not-Okay touches.  A "Tricky People" lesson/video was presented to grades 4-6 to teach personal safety and the tricks & lures used against children.

In the Fall of 2005, the parish religious education classes began utilizing the two above-mentioned programs for the same grade levels; however, they were interrupted for many months by Hurricane Rita which struck the Diocese on Sept. 24, 2005.  Some parishes were not able to resume classes at all this pastoral year due to damaged facilities.

In the Spring of 2006, our Catholic Schools and most parish religious education classes (grades 7-12), began utilizing the program/video "Breaking the Silence" (from the Diocese of Orange, CA).  This program helps teens to recognize the grooming techniques used by abusers, inappropriate adult behavior, and the widespread myths about sexual abuse.  It also encourages reporting sexual abuse to authorities. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2006, 4,689 parish religious education students and 1,397 Catholic School students had received safe environment training.

Supplementing the above, the pamphlet "Keeping Kids Safe" was distributed to the parents of Catholic school and parish religious education students for use in follow-up parent discussions with their children.

Beginning School Year 2006-2007:

In the Diocese of Beaumont Catholic schools, the sexual abuse prevention program was modified as follows:  Grades 1 & 2: "For Pete's Sake, Tell";   Grades 3 & 4:  "Can't Fool Me!"; Grades 5 & 6:  "Tricky People";  and new for Grades 7 & 8: "Called to Protect-for Youth".  "Called to Protect-for Youth" by Praesidium teaches middle and high-school children about boundaries, how to respond if someone tries to violate their boundaries, and how to tell their parents if they or their friend have been abused.  This same new program will also be utilized at Msgr. Kelly Catholic High School. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, 5,491 parish religious education students and 1,025 Catholic School students had received safe environment training.

Adult Training: 

Up to the end of June 2007, 154 "Protecting God's Children" training sessions for adults have been conducted throughout the diocese since the program was initiated in Oct., 2003. At least 3,886 adults have been trained in these sessions.

                                                          Who Must Attend?                                 (Rev. 9/2007)

Attendance at a “Protecting God’s Children” (PGC) session is required for ALL full-time and part-time diocesan / parish / school employees and ALL clergy (priests and deacons with faculties of the diocese or who minister in the diocese).

Part-time employees also include substitute teachers in the schools, teachers or directors of Vacation Bible School, and those working in summer camps. Employees who are paid for their services must be certified in the “Protecting God’s Children” program.

The only exception to this requirement is an employee who works less than 10 hours per week AND has no access to children or youth. The part-time employee has to meet BOTH of these factors in order to qualify for the exemption.

Those volunteers who have regular access to children and teenagers at least 10 times per year MUST also attend a session. Volunteers also include those conducting the Teen ACTS Retreats, chaperones for the Diocesan Youth Convention, and those who assist with similar activities with concentrated access to children or youth. Other volunteers with the diocese / parishes / schools may attend, especially if they foresee volunteering in the future in a ministry that will have access to children and teenagers. Parents and other adults are welcome to attend.

NEW TIME FRAME for attending the PGC training: Beginning September, 2007, those employees

and volunteers who are required to attend a PGC training session must do so within 60 days of their employment date or beginning their volunteer service. Those who procrastinate in fulfilling this requirement may not be allowed access to children and youth until they receive this training.

This schedule is posted and updated in the East Texas Catholic Newspaper, on this diocesan website (www.dioceseofbmt.org) as Safe Environment and on the website Calendar.

                                   

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2007 – 2008 Schedule of Sessions

For anyone who has not already attended.

Sessions in English

Please pre-register for the session at least 5 days in advance of the scheduled date,

at the phone number provided. Sessions last approximately three hours. Thanks.

Revised January 15, 2008

No.	Location	Date	Time	Contact	Facilitator
1	Our Lady of the Pines Woodville	July 6, 2007 Friday	6:30 p.m.	Private Session	Jesús Abrego
2	Lamar Univ. Catholic Student Center -- Beaumont	July 12, 2007 Thursday	6:00 p.m.	Private Session	Tommy Chatlosh
3	St. Anthony Center Beaumont	July 18, 2007 Wednesday	12:30 p.m.	Tommie 409-838-0451 x150	Marianne Mechura
4	Msgr. Kelly Catholic High School -- Beaumont	August 8, 2007 Wednesday	1:30 p.m.	Jan 409-866-2351	Marianne Mechura
5	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	August 14, 2007 Tuesday	3:30 p.m.	Tommie 409-838-0451 x150	Dr. Lorraine DeLuca
6	St. Michael Jasper	August 18, 2007 Saturday	----	Private Session	James Olsovsky
7	St. Jude Beaumont	August 28, 2007 Tuesday	6:30 p.m.	Jeanne 409-866-9595 x2	Marianne Mechura
8	St. Charles Borromeo Nederland	September 5, 2007 Wednesday	6:30 p.m.	Sharlyn 409-722-0421	Br. Bernard Palmeri
9	St. Joseph Livingston	September 9, 2007 Sunday	11:00 a.m.	James 936-967-8550	James Olsovsky
10	St. Francis Orange	September 10, 2007 Monday	6:30 p.m.	Jonnie 409-883-8232	Tommy Chatlosh
11	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	September 11, 2007 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Tommie 409-838-0451 x150	Marianne Mechura
12	Our Lady of Victory Sour Lake	October 2, 2007 Tuesday	6:30 p.m.	Pat 409-287-3287	Tommy Chatlosh
13	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	October 9, 2007 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Tommie 409-838-0451 x150	Br. Bernard Palmeri
14	St. Mary School Orange	October 11, 2007 Thursday	----	Private Session	Br. Bernard Palmeri
15	Immaculate Conception Liberty	October 13, 2007 Saturday	9:30 a.m.	Rose 936-336-7267	Rose Perry
16	St. Mary Cleveland	October 14, 2007 Sunday	1:00 p.m.	Dee 281-592-2985	James Olsovsky
17	St. Henry Bridge City	October 15, 2007 Monday	6:30 p.m.	Olivia 409-735-2422	Tommy Chatlosh
18	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	October 17, 2007 Wednesday	6:00 p.m.	Tommie 409-838-0451 x150	Marianne Mechura
19	St. Joseph Livingston	November 4, 2007 Sunday	10:30 a.m.	Private Session	James Olsovsky
20	St. Louis Winnie	November 6, 2007 Tuesday	6:30 p.m.	Cynthia 409-296-4200	Tommy Chatlosh
21	St. Anthony Center Beaumont	November 20, 2007 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Tommie 409-838-0451 x150	Dean Terrebonne
22	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	December 18, 2007 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Tommie 409-838-0451 x150	Br. Bernard Palmeri
23	O. L. of the Assumption Ch.  Beaumont	January 12, 2008 Saturday	---- a.m.	Private Session	Marianne Mechura
24	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	January 15, 2008 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Marianne 409-924-4300 x4328	Dean Terrebonne
25	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	February 12, 2008 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Marianne 409-924-4300 x4328	Br. Bernard Palmeri
26	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	March 11, 2008 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Marianne 409-924-4300 x4328	Tommy Chatlosh
27	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	April 8, 2008 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Marianne     409-924-4300              x4328	Marianne Mechura
28	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	May 20, 2008 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Marianne 409-924-4300 x4328	Tommy Chatlosh
29	Diocesan Pastoral Center (DPC) Beaumont	June 17, 2008 Tuesday	6:00 p.m.	Marianne     409-924-4300           x4328	Br. Bernard Palmeri

Sessions in Spanish

Es importante que se inscriban para esta clase con 5 días de anticipación,

lo puede hacer llamando a los telefona que ahí se indican.

Las sesiones duran aproximadamente tres horas. Gracias.

No.	Localización	Fecha	Tiempo	Contacto	Facilitator
1	St. Mary Cleveland	noviembre 3, 2007 sábado	1:30 p.m.	Rosann / Juan 281-592-2985	Jesús Abrego
2	St. Joseph Livingston	noviembre 4, 2007 domingo	12:00 noon	James 936-967-8550	Jesús Abrego

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