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WORKING GROUP NEWS

Protecting Our Children Working Group
Submitted by Mary Lanigan

For full coverage of the first quarter of 2004 actions, go to Protecting Our Children on the VOTF Web site. The following report on the 3/27 training session supplements the web site report. This effort represents an enormous success in the VOTF Protecting our Children drive toward collaborative education in the implementation of safeguards for our children.

The seventeen participants in Talking About Touching training on March 27 shared definitions of "abuse"; focused on teaching safety rules about touching and practicing safety steps (including assertiveness training – saying "no," moving away, and telling a trusted "bigger person"); and addressing issues of blame and of secrets. We practiced together, using the excellent teaching materials and visuals of the TAT training kit. From beginning to end, Kathy Kelly, Senior Trainer in Massachusetts for the Children's Trust Fund (which also conducted training in TAT for the RCAB), engaged a committed and energetic group of participants in dialogue and in hands-on practice. Our experience with the grades 1-4 curriculum qualifies us to teach the program to children and to conduct information sessions with parents. We now know and accept our responsibilities as mandated reporters and, as was our stated purpose, are "enabled to assist within our parishes in guarding against child sexual abuse, removing abusers, and educating parents and children in the best methods of ensuring the safety of our children."

 

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In the Vineyard
April 2004
Volume 3, Issue 4

Page One

Council Updates

Prayer of the Month

Survivor Support Working Group

Prayerful Voice Working Group

Support Priest Working Group

Structural Change Working Group

Protecting Our Children Working Group

Parish Voice News

Letters to the Editor

Commentary - Language Matters

Reading Options

Events, Opportunities & News

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In the Vineyard Archives

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