CHILD AND YOUTH PROTECTION

 

updated * updated * updated * updated ATTENTION ALL PASTORS, CHILD ADVOCATES, AND CATECHETICAL LEADERS August-September 2012 Safe Environment Trainings CLICK HERE

Office of Counseling, Prevention and Victim Services

Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell encourages anyone who has been a victim of child sexual abuse by any employee of the Roman Catholic Church to please come forward by contacting Patricia Finn McManamy, Director of the Office of Counseling, Prevention and Victim Services, at 413 452-0624, by confidential toll free number at 800-842-9055 or by email at p.mcmanamy@diospringfield.org.

Bishop McDonnell would like to meet with victims and their families to offer a sincere apology and his prayers for healing.

Safe Environment Programs

In response to the Charter for the Protection of Children as adopted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in Dallas in June of 2002 and revised in 2005, the Diocese Safe Environment program includes:

• The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People: A Policy of the Diocese of Springfield
• The Code of Conduct for All Those Ministering on Behalf of the Church
• Comprehensive background checks on
  • All existing and new employees of the Diocese and entities associated with the Diocese
  • All existing and new volunteers who have contact with children
• Educational awareness programs designed to:
  • Increase awareness of child sexual abuse
  • Increase our ability to prevent child sexual abuse from occurring in our schools , parishes and communities
  • Allow you to commit to being a part of a community that will protect all of God's children.

All employees of the Diocese, parishes and schools, as well as volunteers who have regular contact with children, are required to participate in and comply with all aspects of the Safe Environment Program.

Please click on the links at the left to learn more about programs offered through the Office of Counseling, Prevention and Victim Services.