Office of Safe Environment: April is Child Abuse Awareness Month

April is Child Abuse Awareness month, and as a Diocese we require all employees, clergy, and volunteers to train in abuse awareness every three years. This training, provided by Virtus, assists us to be the eyes and ears for children and vulnerable adults, who may be feel powerless to seek help. An email from Virtus will be sent to you when you are due to train. Check your spam for your reminder. Please complete this training as you are assigned. Having our Diocese trained and in compliance is a reflection on our commitment to child safety, happy and holy environments. We encourage all to remind their parishioners to check their Virtus accounts for their latest training date. ( www.virtusonline.org). If you have trouble logging in, simply click the need login help button. Our Virtus programs and bulletins are excellent resources for reporting information, awareness education and information. We encourage you to go beyond the "mandated training" and read some of the excellent articles presented on the Virtus Platform. 

You are encouraged to read President Joe Bidens proclamation on Child Abuse Prevention month.  While we recover from the scourge of Covid 19- the abuse of children continues to be a National emergency. The time for ending child abuse, in any form is now. 

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/03/31/a-proclamation-on-national-child-abuse-prevention-month-2021/

"An abuser’s best friend is silence: the silent fear of the victim and the silence of those who could report. If you are being hurt, know someone who might be hurting, or are afraid you might hurt another, call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline. This voice, email or text is monitored 24/7." 

https://www.childhelp.org/childhelp-hotline/