ARS 13-3620 -- Duty to report abuse, physical injury, neglect and denial or deprivation of medical or surgical care or nourishment of minors; medical records; exception; violation; classification; definitions

Diocesan Policies

Code of Conduct for All Who Minister in the Diocese of Tucson

Código de Conducta Por Todos Aquellos Que Desempeñan Ministerios en la Diócesis de Tucson

Summary Statement of Guidelines for the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Misconduct

Sumario de la Declaración -- Pautas para la Prevención y la Respuesta a la Mala Conduct Sexual

Education of Children and Youth and their Parents in Personal Safety

Education of children and youth should be integrated into the curriculum, held during a regular class period, and repeated at least annually. Parents should be involved with a class of their own in which they learn what will be taught to their children and how they can maintain a safe environment in the home.

Parents should be invited to observe educational programs in which their children participate. All parents have the right to decline participation by their child in programs of the parish or school, but this decision should be communicated in writing for the parish or school record.

The following programs have been reviewed and found to be effective in the experience of local personnel or others who have shared resources with the diocese. However, parishes and schools are free to select other programs on the basis of local needs. These programs should be submitted to the pastoral center for review.

Recommended Programs

Children

Personal Safety Curriculum for Children and Youth PDF
Curriculum Appendix: Education Log PDF
Curriculum Appendix: Code of Conduct PDF

This program is a component of the Safe Environment Education Program of the Diocese of Tucson. Although it is now the recommended program for the education of children and youth in personal safety, parishes and schools are still free to retain or develop other programs that are found to be more appropriate for the local community, so long as they are approved by the Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection (OCAAP) and reported on annually in terms of their successful implementation.

This curriculum provides pedagogical material for each grade from Pre-K through 8. There is a general outline for the education of high school age students, based in part on the book, Creating Safe and Sacred Places: Identifying, Preventing, and Healing Sexual Abuse (see Other Programs). There is a general outline for parent education. The underlying principle is that children can play a role in their own safety if they understand the basic concepts of recognize, resist and report in a manner appropriate for their age and maturity.

Keeping Kids Safe: P.S. It's My Body!

The Southern Arizona Children's Advocacy Center (SACAC) offers a Community Outreach and Education Program entitled Keeping Kids Safe. This comprehensive, school-based child abuse prevention, awareness & intervention program is designed to:

1) Teach children to reduce their vulnerability to abuse (particularly sexual abuse)
2) Assist parents, school staff and child care providers in recognizing risk factors and signs of abuse, and in developing child protection strategies
3) Promote mandated reporting of suspected abuse.

Training sessions are available, in both English and Spanish, for staff and volunteers, parents, and students from pre-kindergarten through the 7th Grade) throughout Southern Arizona.
Typical training sessions include the following.
1) Staff and Volunteers: "Recognizing and Responding to Suspected Child Abuse," mandated reporter training.
2) Parents: Parental involvement and participation is an integral part of P.S. It's My Body! (see below). Parents are informed as to what their children will learn and also receive important information about how to keep their children safe
3) Students:  P.S. It's My Body! is a research-based curriculum that utilizes age-appropriate lessons, activities and presentations to teach children the three "R's" of personal safety: "Recognize," "Resist," and "Report."

To schedule, call Enrique Aviles at 520-319-5511. There is no cost for the training but donations, to cover time and travel, are very much appreciated.


Break the Silence: Kids Against Child Abuse

This video is available in Spanish or English in VHS format and in English in DVD format. It is appropriate for older grade school age and middle school age children.

Four children speak about their varied experiences of abuse or neglect. This 30-minute tape leads easily into a discussion with children.

The video can be ordered by calling Wenche Eklund of Discovery Education, 800-367-2467, ext. 4329. The cost is about $100, but has been discounted by as much as 50% at times; ask about a discount. It can also be borrowed in VHS format, Spanish or English, from the pastoral center.


Teens

Personal Safety Curriculum for Children and Youth PDF
Curriculum Appendix: Education Log PDF
Curriculum Appendix: Code of Conduct PDF

This program of the Diocese of Tucson is described above. It contains a general outline for the education of high school age students, based in part on the book, Creating Safe and Sacred Places: Identifying, Preventing, and Healing Sexual Abuse (see Other Programs).


Breaking the Silence: Preventing the Sexual Abuse of Minors

This DVD was produced by the Diocese of Orange. It is most appropriate for high school age students. The DVD format allows it to be used in various configurations to begin conversations with youth. It is available only in English. It deals only with sexual abuse. It is useful to expand the discussion to include the more common types of abuse: emotional/neglect, and physical.

The video can be reviewed and ordered online at www.rcbo.org/breakingsilence/DVD.htm. The cost is about $30. It can also be borrowed from the pastoral center.


Other Programs

Children

Formation in Christian Chastity

This program is directed at children in grades 1-8. There is direct education of children in grade 1 and in grades 5-8. In each year, parents also receive instruction and are taught how to speak with their children about personal safety.

This program is available without cost. The Diocese of Harrisburg has made a set of the materials available to the Diocese of Tucson, which can be copied for any interested parish or school.

In addition, the materials are available online through the Diocese of Arlington. You can access a description of the program at www.arlingtondiocese.org/childprotect and actual materials at www.arlingtondiocese.org/offices/protect.

If this program is used, we ask that parents be given a report form after parent education sessions, which is to be returned to document that the discussion with their child/children took place and to evaluate how well the parent education session helped them carry out that discussion.


Stranger Safety

This video was first recommended by Sr. Joachim, Our Lady of the Valley Parish.

It is produced for children ages 5-10. It is focused on all aspects of personal safety, not only awareness of strangers, but emphasizes the identification of safe or trusted adults.

It can be reviewed online at www.thesafeside.com. A lesson plan for teachers and discussion pointers for parents are available at the same site.

It is available in English as a DVD (about $20) or in VHS format (about $15).


Immaculate Conception Parish School (Yuma)

Immaculate Conception Parish School has developed a curriculum that has been successfully implemented with the assistance of Margie Butler of Mission San Xavier School.

The curriculum includes objectives, activities and resources for Grades K-3, 4-6, and 7-8, respectively. It should be supplemented with materials to be given to parents to assist them in following up with their children in discussions at home.

The curriculum materials are available from the pastoral center. We are exploring the possibility of developing training materials with the assistance of Margie Butler.


Self Safety Guidance Program

The Diocese of Tulsa has generously made available a copy of its curriculum, which was adapted from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City Safe Environment Program. The program was designed to be conducted as part of the religious education program.

The program for children, Pre-K through Grade 8, is called Faith, Family and Friends. A set of lesson plans is available for review at the pastoral center.


Teens

Creating Safe and Sacred Places: Identifying, Preventing, and Healing Sexual Abuse

This book, also recommended by the Diocese of Tulsa, includes outlines for a range of training sessions for all involved in youth ministry, including sessions for high school age students themselves.

The authors are Fr. Gerard J. McGlone, SJ, and Mary Shrader. It is published by Saint Mary's Press; Winona, MN, www.smp.org/ItemDetail.cfm?ItemNum=3328.


Personal Safety Awareness

This video is produced by the Boy Scouts of America, Youth Protection. It is designed for teenagers and young adults (ages 14-20), male or female. It is made up of vignettes designed to elicit discussion about the range is issues that pose threats to the healthy development of young people. The discussion is then shaped by the leader to fit the local situation.

The video is available through the Boy Scouts. The organization has a well developed program of prevention. The Catalina Council (520-750-0385) has offered to be of service to anyone seeking to know more about any aspect of the program. The Scout Shop can be reached by calling 520-750-9877.


Parent Education

Personal Safety Curriculum for Children and Youth PDF
Curriculum Appendix: Education Log PDF
Curriculum Appendix: Code of Conduct PDF

This program of the Diocese of Tucson is described above. It contains a general outline for the education of parents. The basic principle is that parents are the primary educators of their children. It is important for parents to know as much as possible about the dangers their children face so that they can provide appropriate information and supervision. At the same time, no parent raises a child independent of the larger community. It is equally important that parents know about the resources available from parish, school, law enforcement and other civic agencies. Together, community, parents and children weave the most effective web of safety.


What Do I Say Now?

This DVD has been recommended by many dioceses for parent education. It is focused on helping parents speak with young children about safety from sexual abuse. "What Do I Say Now?" can be borrowed from the pastoral center, and it can be ordered at the online store at www.cfchildren.org.

A facilitator's packet, courtesy of the Diocese of Tulsa, is also available, in English and Spanish, from the pastoral center.

In addition, the website has many useful handouts for parent education; see http://www.cfchildren.org/parentsf/parenttipsf/parenttipspdfs. The latter handouts help parents consider how to speak with their children of any age about the range of personal safety issues.

The Committee for Children has a wide range of resources to prevent abuse and mistreatment of children.


Internet Safety

Det. John Taylor is a member of the Pima County Attorney's staff who is an expert in crimes against minors using the Internet. He has provided programs on this subject to youth and adults with great impact. Contact information is available through OCAAP.

The Department of Catholic Schools has identified two articles available on line. The articles taken together address the range of abusive behaviors that are part of the "dark side" of the Internet experience. You may find there material that will be useful in preparing your own class for children and youth or for parents. The addresses are http://www.bullying.co.uk/pupils/safeonline.php and www.bewebaware.ca/english/eprint.aspx?content=CYBERBULLYING. The former web site has many other relevant articles that may be of use to you.


The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (www.missingkids.com) sponsors two web sites that provide particular information on internet dangers and solutions. One is www.netsmartz.org. The other is www.GetNetWise.org.

Other Resource Materials

Videos

Suggested by San Xavier School of Religion
From www.videoswithvalues.org
Speak Up! Say No! Keeping Your Child Safe from Sexual Abuse—Ages 4-7
For Pete's Sake, Tell! Keeping Children Safe from Sexual Abuse—Ages 4-7
When Should You Tell?—Grades 3-5
Teen Health: Child Abuse—Grades 8-12


Print

Suggested by San Xavier School of Religion
Protecting Children from Abuse (www.zimmy.com). Parent
Talking about Child Sexual Abuse (au: Cornelia Spelman; pub: Prevent Child Abuse America Publications)
About Sexual Victimization of Children (au: Channing Bete)

Suggested by the Diocese of Raleigh
How to Help Kids Stay Safe: Protecting Your Children and Teens from Sexual Abuse. For parents, from Prevent Child Abuse: North Carolina. Visit www.preventchildabusenc.org) or call 800-CHILDREN for more information.

Suggested by the Diocese of Tulsa
Keeping Our Children Safe. This brief (four-page) handout is a resource for parish/school personnel and parents, available in English and Spanish. It can be purchased in bulk. (au: Linda S. Pieczynski; pub: National Pastoral Life Center. Visit www.nplc.org or call 212-431-7825 for more information.

Suggested by Deacon Sammy Fullen
Good Touch, Bad Touch. Deacon Sammy has adapted this program with permission of Ms. Pam Church. A variety of tools are available at for review at www.goodtouchbadtouch.com.

Suggested by the Diocese of Birmingham
Preventing Child Sexual Abuse: A Parent's Guide and Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Curriculum. The author is Mary A. Lentz. See www.stellar-resources-inc.com for more information.


Web Sites

Suggested by San Xavier School of Religion
www.cfchildren.org
www.childhelpusa.org
www.parent-wise.org
www.missingkids.com
www.childlures.org


NOTA BENE

Many school districts have programs in personal safety. If parents document that their child/children received such education the parish or school can count those children as having received personal safety education.

Parents are also free to refuse permission for personal safety education in the parish or school. They must do so in writing and the parish or school must maintain that refusal in the record. A sample refusal form is available from OCAAP.


Employees and Volunteers: Education/Screening/Supervision

Videos

Protecting our Children: Our Common Commitment

This videotape, often called "Code, Guidelines and Mandated Reporting," provides the basic diocesan education package for all clerics, religious, employees and volunteers in the Diocese of Tucson. The tape should be followed by discussion to insure that the information has been correctly integrated. It is especially useful for orienting new personnel. The educational session should be followed by the signing of the Attestation. The video is available in English and Spanish.


Diocese of Tucson, Safe Environment Program, Annual Report 2006-2007

This video is designed to be used for educational updates. It is appropriate for use in conducting the annual education of any employee or volunteer; however, high responsibility personnel should also be given more advanced education particular to their roles. The video is best suited for use through June 2007. It is available in English only. It is available in VHS or DVD format.


Reducing the Risk II: Making Your Church Safe from Child Sexual Abuse

This material can be ordered on the web at www.reducingtherisk.com. Two manuals, a DVD with six training videos and a year's subscription (accessible to all members of the parish team) to the website is available for about $55.

It is a valuable set of tools for education at all levels of the parish, including leadership teams. One of its strength is the focus on risk mitigation both from the moral and the business perspective. As such, the material will appeal to different types of persons in the interest of achieving the common goal of protecting our children.

The focus is on sexual abuse, but the material is easily expanded to include prevention of all types of abuse and maltreatment of children. It does not address the abuse or maltreatment of vulnerable adults. It is designed for use by any church, so it is not exclusively or particularly Roman Catholic in language or perspective.

The DVD and the manuals can be reviewed at the pastoral center.

Priestly Relationships: Freedom through Boundaries

This video (VHS) is designed to provoke discussion among priests as to how social needs can be met while maintaining boundaries appropriate to the role and public commitments of the priest.

It is published by the National Organization for the Continuing Education of Roman Catholic Clergy. It is available for review in the pastoral center.

Men Vowed and Sexual: Conversations about Celibate Chastity

This program is a set of six videos (VHS) designed to elicit discussions about a range of topics relevant to living chastely as a celibate man. It was published by the Conference of Major Superiors of Men. Although published in 1993, it remains a useful tool for seminars on this subject and serves diocesan priests as well as religious priests and brothers.

Print

Religious Educators and What They Should Know

This book is available from Mike Berger, Office of Catechesis, at the pastoral center. It was written by Dr. Mary Kay Cullinan, Ph.D. It is a practical tool for raising awareness among religious educators and youth ministers regarding the abuse of children.

Web Sites

www.volunteer.ca This site contains much useful information about managing a volunteer program safely and effectively.

www.guideonecenter.com Resources for risk management in general, with a focus on parishes and schools, including prevention of abuse from the risk management perspective

www.de.state.az.us/dcyf/cps/ Home page for Child Protective Services

www.sacasa.org Education and treatment resource, including a 24-hour crisis line for anyone who has been assaulted (800-400-1001)

www.azsexoffender.net The Arizona sex offender list is available from this site and is useful in background checking.

www.nsopr.gov This Department of Justice web site allows a national search for registered sex offenders. It is useful in background checks of persons new to Arizona.

www.supreme.state.az.us/publicaccess The Arizona court records are available from this site, which is also useful for background checking.

nccanch.acf.hhs.gov is the web site of the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information. It provides a wealth of educational material.

www.childhelpusa.org This site provides general information about the work of Childhelp USA.

http://stopitnow.com A multi-faceted campaign to prevent child sexual abuse is the focus of this site. The group provides materials aimed at touching the conscience of abusers and potential abusers, urging them to seek effective help. There are also materials to increase the awareness of the public regarding the trauma of abuse and effective ways to stop it.


Other

Most local Police Departments, County Sheriffs, and County Attorneys will offer some form of training.

Internet pornography and solicitation of minors constitute an increasingly important area. The Pima County Attorney's Office and the Tucson Police Department, among others, have experts on the subject who may be contacted to present to the parish or school.


Information Received But Not Reviewed

A View from the Shadows: this is a three volume video series for educating adults about the methods of child sex offenders, the possibilities for treatment and community management of sex offenders, and how parents can talk to children about sexual abuse. Further information is available from the web site www.yhtp.org.