Adult Education: Combating the Social Ill of Child Sexual Abuse, The Tidings [Los Angeles CA], February 9, 2007

Adult Education: Combating the Social Ill of Child Sexual Abuse

The Tidings [Los Angeles CA]
February 9, 2007

http://www.the-tidings.com/2007/020907/socialill.htm

The national statistics are overwhelming. It is estimated that one in every three girls is molested before she reaches her 18th birthday. For young men, the figures are almost as grim — one in six boys is molested as minors — and in 90 percent of the cases, the abuser is known to the victim.

These statistics point up the breadth and depth of the social ill of child sexual abuse in our society. How can we address this problem? Specifically, what can we as a Church do to combat these horrendous crimes against our children and youth? What resources do we have available to fight this evil?

Since 2003, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has aggressively implemented educational programs at all levels — for priests, deacons, parish ministers, principals, teachers, directors of Religious Education, catechists, Confirmation directors, youth ministers, music ministers, coaches, parents and volunteers.

The Church has historically been committed to education. Education, therefore, is the greatest force the Church can use to confront the evil of child abuse.

Since 2003, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles has aggressively implemented educational programs at all levels — for priests, deacons, parish ministers, principals, teachers, directors of Religious Education, catechists, Confirmation directors, youth ministers, music ministers, coaches, parents and volunteers.

More than 40,000 adults have been trained using the VIRTUS® Adult Awareness Training. The VIRTUS program educates adults to be aware of the warning signs that indicate an adult is engaged in an inappropriate or abusive relationship with a child or youth. Adults are trained to watch for the following behaviors in an adult:

— The adult always wants to be alone with children or youth.

— The adult gives gifts to children without parental permission.

— The adult wants to wrestle or tickle children or goes overboard touching.

— The adult thinks rules do not apply to him/her.

— These tendencies are all indicators that the adult should not be working with or around children or youth.

Likewise, the VIRTUS Adult Awareness Training places emphasis on the safety of the parish plant for all parish programs for young children and youth. Parish leaders are educated to be alert to arranging safe arrival and drop-off procedures, providing well-lighted facilities, placing glass doors/windows in all parish offices, and providing adequate adult supervision at all times.

In 2004, the Archdiocese launched the Good-Touch/Bad-Touch® Program and in 2006 the VIRTUS Teaching Touching Safety™ Program for children and youth. To date, more than 2,000 adult catechists and teachers have been trained to teach these programs. As these adults have used their acquired expertise, they have become aware of the pervasive problem of sexual abuse and the urgent need to assist children and youth in developing skills to respond to inappropriate advances.

Teachers and catechists in both parish elementary and secondary schools and Religious Education catechists are also trained to identify the signs that may indicate a young person is being sexually abused. The following are indicators that a child or youth may be experiencing the trauma of sexual abuse:

— Nervous, aggressive, hostile or disruptive behavior towards adults.

— Suicide attempts.

— Apathy, tiredness, fatigue.

— Sleep difficulties.

— Sexually acting out.

— Reluctance to be with a certain person.

All teachers and catechists working with children and young people are trained to report to Child Protective Services or the local police department if they even suspect a child or youth is being abused. The three county Child Abuse Hotlines are:

— Los Angeles County: (800) 540-4000

— Santa Barbara County: (800) 367-0166

— Ventura County: (800) 754-7600

This series of feature stories, commentary and analysis is compiled and edited by an advisory group to the Media Relations Office of the Archdiocese, through which the articles are distributed.