Protecting God's children

Don Stubbings and Sarah Larson have chosen to devote much of their professional life to the protection of children and young people.

By Ashlie Hand | Photos by Megan Marley

DON STUBBINGS AND SARAH LARSON form the team responsible for Safe Environment training and compliance in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, performing the crucial role of abuse prevention for the Office of Child and Youth Protection.

Don and Sarah ensure that all employees and volunteers meet the Safe Environment requirements of background checks, training and commitment to the Ethics in Ministry Code of Conduct.

How long has the diocese had the Safe Environment Program?

In 2002 The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People outlined the framework required of dioceses, archdioceses, and eparchies around the United States to ensure specific procedures are followed to protect children and vulnerable adults. The Charter also set forth the standard for an effective response to reports of abuse.

What drew you to your role with the Office of Child and Youth Protection?

DON: After 24 years working in higher education in law enforcement, Title IX investigation and programming, I wanted to find a role where my service to the community continued with a faith-focused effort to make a difference in the Church’s ongoing effort to protect children.

SARAH: Having my own children made me aware of all the dangers that they can face from people in general and I wanted to help with the education of adults and children in order to make our environment safer for children.

What is a typical day like for you in your role?

DON: Much of my day is concentrated on reviewing compliance for volunteers and employees who work with children. The Protecting God’s Children workshops, Ethics and Integrity in Ministry policy and our extensive background investigation processes are reviewed for every employee and volunteer during their onboarding, as well as throughout their time working with children. I also partner with local Safe Environment coordinators to assist with their daily efforts to ensure that a parish or school is following our diocese’s policies.

SARAH: I assist people with any questions they have regarding the diocesan Safe Environment policy. I also follow up with the diocesan priests and deacons to ensure they are compliant with their ongoing Safe Environment training. Don and I work together to visit parishes to review compliance.

How does the training you provide help in preventing future abuse of children in our diocese?

The Protecting God’s Children workshop allows us to facilitate discussion on several areas of protection of children and vulnerable adults. Knowing the warning signs of adults, screening and selecting employees and volunteers, monitoring the environments where children are present and understanding the clues and behaviors a child may exhibit if they are being abused.

One of the critical areas which our workshops cover is how to report abuse based on the concern of the reporting person and the reported abuser, including reporting to civil authorities (law enforcement) in the state of Missouri.

Our children's prevention programming is highlighted by the Circle of Grace curriculum, which is presented to all K-12 students in our diocesan Catholic schools and parish religious education programs. The program is an age-appropriate set of lessons which empowers children to advocate for themselves and others to recognize and report when physical, emotional and sexual boundaries are crossed.

What is the most rewarding aspect of the work you do in our diocese?

The most rewarding part of the work is when we see how it has made a difference. Sometimes it is a reflection by a volunteer and how the training gave them new tools to recognize signs of abuse and other times is visiting parishes and schools seeing the effort and vigilance they put into their programming to ensure that abuse has no place within our diocese.

If you experienced sexual abuse as a minor by a member of Catholic clergy, religious or Church volunteer, please consider making a report. Contact Independent Ombudsman Joe Crayon at crayon@ombudsmankcsj.org or contact the MO Child Abuse Hotline at 1.800.392.3738.

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and in 2022, the Office of Child and Youth Protection invited diocesan Catholic schools to submit original artwork on the topic of "Hope." A small gallery show, “Vision of Hope,” was held at the Chancery to display the artwork.

Artist: Claire, age 12

Artist: Adi, age 5

Artist: Ellie, age 10

Artist: Veronica, age 11

Artist: Kaysen, age 12