Safe Environment Training Ensures We Are All Equipped to Protect God’s Children

As people of faith, we are each tasked with an essential duty — to protect our children from the horrors of abuse. In a 2015 letter to bishops and Church officials, Pope Francis wrote, “Families need to know that the Church is making every effort to protect their children. They should also know that they have every right to turn to the Church with full confidence, for it is a safe and secure home.”

So, as part of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ “Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal” program, the Diocese of Fort Worth asks that all parishioners, children to adults, participate in Safe Environment training. This training covers how to recognize signs of abuse as well as how to report abuse.

“Our mission is to keep everyone in our parish safe from all forms of abuse,” says Safe Environment Coordinator Renée Bader. “The more people we have who are aware of the warning signs of abuse and how to report it, the better we are able to fulfill the mission. The more our children are aware of their boundaries and safe adults, the better they can help the adults around them to keep them safe.”

Empowering God’s Children training is tailored to kindergarten to fifth-grade students, and Called to Protect is for sixth to 12th-grade students. For adults, there are the Protecting God’s Children and Keeping the Promise Alive training programs —facilitators for the adult sessions are Anne LaMere, Debbie Horn, Linda Reilly, and Lori Palacios. The children and youth sessions are held during Faith Formation classes. Currently, adult sessions are being offered online through the Zoom videoconferencing platform and in-person at parishes around the diocese. Here at our parish, we have in-person sessions throughout the year. Sessions are offered on different days and at different times for everyone to find a training session that may work with their schedule.

Anyone who serves in a ministry is required to attend the training. Parents are asked to, at the very least, look over the children’s materials so they are familiar with them and can continue the conversation.

“We are only able to keep everyone safe if those in the parish know the warning signs of abuse and know what to do when they see the warning signs of abuse,” Renée says.

The children and youth sessions focus on boundaries and how to report abuse to safe adults. The adult sessions discuss the grooming process, the warning signs of possible abuse, and how to respond when warning signs are seen.

Renée says adults have appreciated the training because it has helped make them more aware of the people and circumstances in their everyday lives. It is practical information that can be used anywhere.

The Diocese of Fort Worth website points out there may be more situations involving conflicts, abuse or violence as people experience the difficulties of the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit fwdioc.org/safe-environment for more information on resources. Our parish sessions are listed at svdpcc.org/safe-environment-awareness. Each person needs a VIRTUSonline.org profile. Please contact Renée Bader at 817-478-8206, ext. 204, or rbader@svdpcc.org for information on logging in.