Dear St. Thomas More Religious Education Teachers (GR. K-11), all those involved in church ministries and volunteer actvities, Parish Staff, Youth Ministry, Mother Center volunteers and interested parishioners:

The Archdiocese of Boston has mandated that parishes implement a program prevention and awareness training at the parish level for adults - called "Protecting God's Children". The program was initiated in response to the sexual abuse of children. The Protecting God's Children Program has been developed to prevent further abuse. People who are to attend included the pastor and staff and all people who have contact with parish children.

Parish Staff, Religious Education teachers, and all other parish volunteers who have contact with parish children are required to attend one training session. The sessions are approximately three hours long and will consist of a video presentation followed by discussion. Facilitators from this parish are Joanne Bibeau, Alice Doherty, and Carol McGrath. These women have undergone a two-day training program to prepare them to train all volunteers working with children.

The "Protecting God's Children" program administered by the Catholic Risk Retention Group under an umbrella called VIRTUS - consists of group presentations, printed materials and DVDs that will focus on the prevention of abuse and the protection of children. The program is designed particularly for those adults who have custodial care of children as part of their duties. Training in the signs and symptoms that indicate a child is being abused in some way, and how to talk with children about these issues will also be included, as will training in the responsibilities of mandated reporting and the archdiocese's policies and procedures for preventing child abuse. An on-line component called "VIRTUS On-Line" will provide continued training through monthly bulletins and periodic recertification.

ALL PARISHIONERS, TEACHERS & AIDES:

·For the safety of all children, the Archdiocesan mandated “Protecting God’s Children” course for adults, must be completed prior to working with children. *Attendance is required only once. This very informative session is offered to all parishioners. We encourage anyone who cares about children’s safety to attend.

Chart for Reporting Child Abuse to Civil and Church Authorities
http://www.rcab.org/ChildAdvocacy/ChartReportingChildAbuse.pdf

A Pocket Guide to the Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Children
http://www.rcab.org/ChildAdvocacy/AbbreviatedPolicy.pdf

For more information on learning how you can help ensure the safety of children, you may call the Office for Child Advocacy at 617-746-5994.

DID YOU KNOW?
Get Involved in Parish Safety Programs
Parents and Guardians: Get Involved
Parents and guardians play a key role in the success of parish programs for young people. Parents and guardians who are involved in parish programs and events will be in the best position to protect their own children as well as all the children in the parish community. Involvement and communications are important factors in helping to ensure safe environments for all of our children.

Always Keep an Up-to-Date Photo of Your Child
Picture this: A good photo could save a child’s life. One of the most important tools for law enforcement in the case of a missing child is an up-to-date (take a new one every six months), good-quality photograph. The photograph should be a recent head-and-shoulders color photograph of the child in which the face is clearly seen. It should be of school-portrait quality, and the background should be plain or solid so it does not distract from the subject. When possible, the photograph should be in a digitized form and available on a compact disk (CD), as opposed to just a hard copy. This minimizes the time necessary to scan, resize, and make color corrections before disseminating it to law enforcement. The photograph should have space for accurate, narrative description useful to identify the child, such as name, nickname, height, weight, sex, age, eye color, identifying marks, glasses and braces.
Children should be seen, heard and believed!

Internet Spammers Target Kids, Too
Does your child know what to do when her or she gets an e-mail from an unknown person? If you are allowing your children to communicate with others online, be aware that they will be exposed to spam. The easiest way to avoid spam is to make sure that your children do not give out their personal information or e-mail address to anyone they do not know. Adjust the security settings on their e-mail account to filter or block unwanted messages. Encourage your children to delete any messages they get from anyone they don’t know. Even when your children get e-mail or instant messages from people they know, make sure that they scan everything they are downloading for viruses first. You can do this by making sure that you have your antivirus software up to date.

Internet Filter Software Is No Substitute for Parental Monitoring
There is a lot of material on the Internet that is inappropriate for children. Parents can use filtering software to protect children from that material, but filters do not guarantee that children will not be exposed; a filter will never be a substitute for parents’ presence. Monitor your child’s online behavior. Keep your family computer in a highly visible, common area, like the family room or the kitchen. Ask your children to show you what sites they go to, and be open and willing to discuss the inappropriate material they might come across.

Keeping Your Child’s Personal Information Personal
If your children give out personal information over the Internet, not only is it easy to track, it’s tough to completely remove. Emphasize to them how important it is that they keep personal information private. Make sure that they have a strong (ideally, alphanumeric) username and password that doesn’t reveal anything personal. Encourage them not to give out their e-mail address, if they have one. If your children tell you that they have given out personal information online, contact your Internet service provider or the site where the information is posted to see what you can do to have it removed.

IOW, Knowing Internet Lingo Can Help Parents Safeguard Kids
Online chat rooms, instant messaging systems and even cell phones equipped to send text messages are environments rich in abbreviations, acronyms and other shorthand that help increase the speed of communication. Parents need to become aware of some of the common lingo that is used in these environments. Some of these terms may be found to be vulgar, degrading or otherwise offensive. However, parents and educators need to have a level of understanding of the dangers that face our children.

Internet Safety for Kids
The Internet has become the new schoolyard for child molesters seeking girls or boys to victimize. Internet “chat rooms” provide a teenager with an opportunity to engage in a “live” conversation with friends from school or church, or with other teenagers from around the world. A chat room is similar to an old-style telephone party line, except that the teens are typing. Law enforcement has found that child molesters use chat rooms to gain easy and safe access to teens. Because of the seemingly caring and seductive talent of child molesters, teenagers should be warned that when they are in a chat room, they should never provide anyone with private information, personal information, and especially their specific physical location.

Cyber Tipline Fights Internet Crimes Against Children
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other government agencies all work together to fight Internet crimes against children. They’ve established a “CyberTipline,” a reporting mechanism for cases of child sexual exploitation including child pornography, online enticement of children for sex acts, molestation of children outside the family, sex tourism of children, child victims of prostitution, and unsolicited obscene material sent to a child. Reports may be made – 24 hours per day, seven days per week – online at www.cybertipline.com or by calling (800) 843-5678.

Tips for Summer Camp Safety
Summer is almost here. School is almost out, and a whole host of new opportunities for recreation and relaxation await. Maybe you are sending your children to a music or sports camp. Or maybe they have been invited by their friends to go camping in the mountains or at the beach. Whatever the situation, it is important to remember that parents still have the responsibility of controlling access that new people will have to their children. If your children are attending a summer camp, insist that every counselor or anyone else who might have access to your children has undergone an application process that includes a criminal background check and reference checks.

Summertime, Safe Time
All teachers, staff and volunteers in the archdiocese who work with children must undergo criminal background checks. Archdiocesan guidelines and abuse prevention training programs currently in use emphasize the importance of parents’ knowing who has access to their children at school and other Church-sponsored activities. Summertime is here, and parents should remain vigilant regarding who is granted access to their children. Make sure camp counselors have undergone criminal background checks. And make sure you know the camp’s daily routine. In particular, make sure that no camp activity results in a child being left alone with one adult. All activities should be supervised by more than one adult, and the camp should be open to unannounced drop-in visits from parents

Listen to Your Children
This summer, when your children are out of school and on different schedules, meeting new people and going to new places, make sure that you talk to them often about their experiences and the people they’ve met. Listen carefully to your children. If possible, observe and get to know the other children and adults who are part of your children’s summertime fun. Above all, communicate your safety concerns to your children. Make sure they know that they can come to you with any concerns they may have about the people they interact with. And if you hear of or observe behaviors that may be inappropriate, make sure to communicate your feelings to people who are in a position to intervene. Communication is key to creating and maintaining a safe environment all year round.

Where Do Your Kids Go to Have Fun?
Protecting children from harm extends beyond the time that they are under your direct supervision. Know where your children spend their time when school is out or they are not in the house. Where do they gather and play with other kids? Are there other adults in the area? If so, who are they, and what reason do they have to be there? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you to keep your kids safe even when you are not with them.

How Old Does a Child Need to Be in Order to Stay Alone?
Don’t assume that when your child understands what you’re saying, he’s ready to walk out the door by himself. Besides the fact that many states have laws against leaving children of certain ages alone (for example, younger than 12), experts say children shouldn’t be left by themselves until they’re capable of fighting off an abductor or handling a crisis situation. Experts also say children do not have the mental maturity to cross busy streets by themselves until they’re about 10 or 12 years old. (Did you know that pedestrian injuries rank third in child fatalities, behind traffic accidents and drowning?) Finally, parents who are certain their young children would never walk away with a stranger will be shocked to learn that studies show they probably will. Stay alert and vigilant, even if you believe your child is aware of possible dangers from others.

Teach Kids to Protect Themselves at Home
We consider our homes to be safe places for our children. But being home alone can pose risks for children. Here are a few tips to teach kids that will help keep them safe when you are not with them at home: Never answer the door if alone. Do not invite anyone in the house without the permission of a parent or babysitter. Don’t tell anyone on the phone that your parents are not home. Instead tell them that your parents can’t come to the phone, and take a message.

Dangers of Cell Phone Cameras
Cell phones with photographic capability are a mixed blessing. Forget your camera? Whip out the cell phone, and your toddler’s first step, friend’s goofy mishap, or fender-bender is captured for posterity. But cell phones are also being used in a sinister way – to silently take pictures of unsuspecting children, adolescents, and adults in compromising positions and without their consent. Plus, unlike conventional photographs, digital photos can be placed on the Internet very quickly – within minutes of taking the photo and distributed around the world. In fact, some Web sites have been created for the sole purpose of posting photos taken surreptitiously with camera phones. Have a healthy suspicion of anyone using a cell phone in an awkward way, such as not holding it up to his or her ear or facing his or her mouth in walkie-talkie style. Be especially cognizant of any suspicious cell phone use in areas where people could be in various states of undress or where children are gathered. If you see someone using a cell phone in a way that appears suspicious, don’t be afraid to ask what he or she is doing or to alert someone in a position of authority about your concerns.

Always Keep an Up-to-Date Photo of Your Child
One of the most important tools for law enforcement in the case of a missing child is an up-to-date, good-quality photograph. The photograph should be a recent head-and-shoulders color photograph of the child in which the face is clearly seen. It should be of school-portrait quality, and the background should be plain or solid so it does not distract from the subject. When possible, the photograph should be in a digitized form and available on a compact disk (CD), as opposed to just a hard copy. This minimizes the time necessary to scan, resize, and make color corrections before disseminating it to law enforcement. The photograph should be updated at least every six months for children age six or younger, and then once a year, or when a child’s appearance changes.

Can You Pass the “Blog Beware” Quiz?
Internet blogs and other social networking sites have recently exploded in popularity and in the news. The number of MySpace.com users is currently estimated at more than 67 million. The majority of activity on these and other youth-oriented Web sites is positive. However, we’ve all read stories of how those who would harm children use these sites to lure children and teens into inappropriate discussions. To combat this danger, www.netsmartz.org offers a wide range of Internet safety resources for parents and children. Start by taking the “Blog Beware” quiz. For kids, there’s a related site: www.netsmartzkids.org.

Sex Abuse Prevention Tips for Single Parents
Raising children as a single parent or guardian often presents a whole host of challenges. Many single parents heroically work to balance work, school, and other commitments. With so much to do, how can a single parent integrate child safety practices into his or her daily routine? In supervising their children, single parents often seek assistance from a close confidant, a trusted friend, or an extended family member. Know these people well, and tell your children that no secrets may be kept at any time from anyone. For guidelines and suggestions on sexual abuse prevention for single parents, please visit www.virtus.org.

AN AUTUMN MESSAGE ABOUT CHILD PROTECTION
Autumn means back to school for children and back to work for those who have been on vacation. Amidst the hustle and bustle of this season, let us all keep sight of the importance of keeping our children and young people safe from danger. Committees to safeguard children have been established in parishes throughout the archdiocese. These committees help ensure that all children and youth experience safe environments in all parish activities and events.

Ensuring Your Child’s School Is Safe
Every teacher, coach and volunteer who works with children in the archdiocese’s parishes and schools must have a background check before he or she is permitted to work in any school-or parish-related job or activity that involves contact with children. But what about the children who attend non-Catholic private or public schools? Talk with school administrators and find out what steps they take to protect children from harm. Suggest that they review other abuse prevention programs to ensure that their policies and practices are up to date. And demand that all employees and volunteers who work in the school be properly screened, including background checks, before they are allowed to be near your children.

@TEOTD Are Your Kids AATK?
Do you understand the sentence above? Chances are your kids do. The Internet is a great resource for information and fun; but like nearly everything else these days, cyberspace brings with it its own set of challenges for parents. Parents should monitor their children’s Internet use and become familiar with the multitude of abbreviations, acronyms, and other shorthand that their children may be receiving via Internet chat rooms, instant messaging systems, and text message devices. For a searchable database of this Internet lingo, please visit www.virtus.org/virtus.

How to Report Inappropriate or Illegal Content on the Internet
One of the main reasons that children do not report the inappropriate content they find online is fear of punishment from parents. If you let them know that it is not their fault if they come across an inappropriate site, they will be more willing to come to you when it happens. If your children ever show you a site that contains illegal behavior, such as pornographic images of children, contact your Internet service provider and the CyberTipline at www.cybertipline.com.

RESOURCES TO HELP KEEP KIDS SAFE
The Web site of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children offers dozens of well-produced informational brochures covering a broad range of child safety topics. Go to www.ncmec.org and click on “Resources for Parents & Guardians” to find these brochures and other helpful information about child safety.

WHAT IS ‘RELATIONAL BULLYING”?
Relational bullying is unwarranted, persistent, unwelcome behavior in the form of criticism, isolation, or fabricated allegations that can damage relationships. Examples include social exclusion (“You can’t be with us”), spreading rumors (“Did you hear…?”), and withholding friendship (“I won’t be your friend if you …”). Though relational bullying can often seem ambiguous to outside observers and often garners less attention than physical bullying or verbal bullying, it should not be discounted simply as normal adolescent behavior. In fact, several recent studies suggest relational bullying is more strongly related to emotional distress and teen depression than any other form of bullying. Make sure your child’s school does not tolerate such behavior among its students.

BE VIGILANT
It is vitally important that we are constantly vigilant – that we always observe the behaviors of those who interact with children. And we must always communicate our concerns to the appropriate parties. Sometimes this means communicating our safety concerns to our children. And sometimes this means communicating our concerns about seemingly inappropriate behavior to those who are in a position to intervene. Parents must also listen carefully to their children and observe both their children’s activities and the behavior of older children and adults who interact with them. When children exhibit dramatic behavioral changes, adults must find out what caused the changes. Being aware of what’s happening with our children means talking to, listening to, and observing them – at every opportunity.

KNOW THE WARNING SIGNS OF ABUSE
Child molesters look like everyone else. They don’t look like scary people that anyone should know to avoid. Rather, they live with their families in our neighborhoods. One of the most important ways to ensure the safety of children in our environments is to know the warning signs of adults who present a risk of harm to children. Among these signs are when the person (1) always wants to be alone with children in areas where no one can monitor the interaction, (2) allows children to do things their parents would not permit, (3) is always more excited to be with children than with adults, and (4) discourages others from participating in activities involving kids.

LEARNING SOMETHING NEW ABOUT AN ABUSE-RELATED ISSUE
You can help create a safer environment for children by learning something new each week about an abuse-related issue. It doesn’t have to be something major or time-consuming to be a benefit. It could be as simple as keeping your eye open for news items or statistics that broaden your understanding about different types of abuse, characteristics of abusers, warning signs that a child is a victim, and other such information. The sources are all around you … TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, co-workers, peer groups … it’s up to you to create a specific action plan that defines how much effort you’ll invest each week and how much you intend to learn, and then to identify specific sources for information.

KEEPING GOD’S CHILDREN PROTECTED AND SAFE
To know that we are children of God is to live in complete love, with deep abiding security and the ability to dream, to sing, to create, to laugh, and to play without worry. As we grow older, we face a new reality – we cannot approach all God’s creation with the same trust and confidence. We learn, through sometimes hurtful and damaging experiences, that some people reject the ability that God gave them to love and respect others – they ignore God’s call. The archdiocese’s program to safeguard children helps remind us of these very facts. With the help of this program, the faithful are guided and educated about the responsibility of how to keep God’s children protected and safe.

IS CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE STILL A CRISIS TODAY?
Is child sexual abuse still a crisis today? Regardless of the answer, we are faced with both good and bad news. Instead of scandalous headlines and emotionally charged confrontations, child sexual abuse has become a very sad reality in our daily lives. Child sexual abuse has been, is, and will continue to be a societal evil that must be battled each and every day for as long as there are children to protect. But if we are willing to face this daily challenge, to tackle this unfortunate and tragic problem, to treat child safety and security as a ministry, then it truly can be said that we are a part of the solution.

Test Your Knowledge of Abuse Prevention: True or False?
True or false: It is common for both child and adult victims of sexual assault to wait some time before telling someone about the abuse. True. It is common for victims of sexual assault to wait some time before telling someone. When the person was assaulted as a child, he or she may wait years or decades. The reasons for this are numerous: victims may want to deny the fact that someone they trusted could do this to them; they may want to just put it behind them; they may believe the myth that they caused the assault by their behavior; or they may fear how other people will react to the truth.

What Do Molesters Look Like? Child molesters belong to every profession, gender, and ethnic group, and they live in rural, urban, and suburban areas. There is no “look” about them that indicates that they are a danger to the physical and emotional health of our children. It is imperative that we look beyond demographic characteristics and focus on the behaviors of adults when they are around children. We must regularly refresh the basic knowledge and actions required to keep children safe. For tips on recognizing and reporting inappropriate behavior, please visit www.virtus.org.

Do Those Missing Children Postcards Really Work?
Absolutely. One in six of the missing kids featured on these cards are recovered as a direct result of the photograph. The cards with the photographs of missing children reach up to 79 million homes weekly. So the next time you reach into your mailbox and find one of these cards, take a good look at the child’s picture. You never know when you might be the one who makes the difference in helping to find a missing child.

Where Do Your Children Spend Their Time?
Child safety tip: You can help keep your children safe by knowing where they spend their time. Get to know the adults who show up at the various locations in the community where children gather and where they play together. Be wary of any adult who seems more interested in creating a relationship with a child than with other adults. Pay attention when an adult seems to single out a particular child for a relationship or for special attention. Warning signs include treats, gifts, vacations, or other special favors offered only to one specific child.

Get Involved
Parents and guardians play a key role in the success of parish programs for young people. Parents and guardians who are involved in parish programs and events will be in the best position to protect their own children as well as all the children in the parish community. Involvement and communication are important factors in helping to ensure safe environments for all of our children.

Teach Children to Say, “Stop It”
Child safety tip: Teach children to say, “Stop it,” to instructions that might encourage them to do things they really do not want to do. Reinforce the rule that children should say, “Stop it,” to requests or demands that make them uncomfortable, even if they think they should obey. A discussion of these rules can teach a child that there are some times when it is okay to say, “Stop it,” and other times when it is okay to go along with the instructions.

SAFETY RULES BEAR REPEATING
Research reminds us that teaching children how to resist the overtures of a potential molester requires repetition and reinforcement. Children and young people need to know the rules, and they need to hear them over and over and over again so that the rules become part of a thought process. This is done in the same way we teach the rules about looking both ways before crossing the street and the danger of getting too close to an open flame. Empowering children to speak up and resist the overtures of potential molesters can stop a child molester in his or her tracks. Molesters who fear being caught – and being labeled a molester – may decide it is not worth the risk and back off.

HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE SEXUALLY APPROACHED AND/OR SOLICITED ONLINE?
According to highlights of the Youth Internet Safety Survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Justice, “one in five children (10 to 17 years old) receives unwanted sexual solicitations online.” In 1998, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), in cooperation with the FBI and other government agencies, established the CyberTipline as a means whereby people may report incidents of online child sexual exploitation. For more information, please visit www.cybertipline.com or call toll-free: (800)843-5678.

Educational Materials on the Danger of Abuse
The overwhelming majority of our clergy and lay leaders are hardworking individuals who are dedicated to serving the People of God in our parishes and schools. All of us together are responsible for making sure that all of our ministries are as safe as possible for our children and young people. That means each of us has a responsibility to educate ourselves about the real danger of sexual abuse.

The Dangers of Webcams
A webcam is a video camera that is connected to a user’s computer and is most often positioned on top of the user’s computer monitor. When activated in conjunction with an online service, the webcam will permit the user to transmit video images of himself or herself to others in real time. Webcams can be a source of convenience and amusement for viewing friends from other schools or relatives who live out of state. Unfortunately, due to its use by child molesters who search the Internet for unsuspecting children, the webcam is the single most dangerous peripheral device that can be attached to a child’s or young person’s computer. Prior to connecting a webcam or a microphone to a computer, specific rules should be established to help protect the safety of everyone involved.

God’s Call to Love and Respect Others
To know that we are children of God is to live in complete love with deep abiding security and the ability to dream, to sing, to create, to laugh, and to play without worry. It is a freedom to love – with full trust and confidence – the creatures whom God has sent to us in our world. As we grow older, we face a new reality. We cannot approach all God’s creation with the same trust and confidence. We learn, through sometimes hurtful and damaging experiences, that some people reject the ability that God gave them to love and respect others – they ignore God’s call to love and respect others.

Compliments Can Support Abuse Prevention Efforts
You can help create a safer environment for children by identifying the strengths in those around you and providing each of your employees, co-workers, and peers with genuine compliments regarding their respective contribution to your community’s abuse prevention efforts. Everyone appreciates a pat on the back every now and then. Notice those who genuinely inspire you, and give them a genuine and well-deserved pat on the back.

Help Reduce Abuse Statistics
Nationally, more than 2 million reports of abuse or neglect of minors are made each year. Only a small percentage of child abuse is ever reported. Learn how to spot suspected abuse or neglect, and how to report it to the proper authorities. For more information, please contact those in your parish who are in charge of programs to safeguard children.

DID YOU KNOW?
Where Do Your Kids Go to Have Fun?
Protecting children from harm extends beyond the time that they are under your direct supervision. Know where your children spend their time when school is out or they are not in the house. Where do they gather and play with other kids? Are there other adults in the area? If so, who are they, and what reason do they have to be there? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you to keep your kids safe even when you are not with them.

Five Steps to Safer Environments
The archdiocese mandates that all people who work with children and youth in our parishes and schools must undergo child abuse prevention training through the VIRTUS program. The training details five steps to prevent child sexual abuse: Know the warning signs of an inappropriate relationship with a child.
1. Know the warning signs!
2. Control access to children by carefully selecting the adults who work with children and youth.
3. Monitor all programs for the safety of children and youth.
4. Be aware of and sensitive to what is going on in the lives of children.
5. Communicate concerns to the appropriate person in authority.

Keeping God’s Children Protected and Safe
To know that we are children of God is to live in complete love, with deep abiding security and the ability to dream, to sing, to create, to laugh and to play without worry. As we grow older, we face a new reality-we cannot approach all God’s creation with the same trust and confidence. We learn, through sometimes hurtful and damaging experiences, that some people reject the ability that God gave them to love and respect others-they ignore God’s call. The archdiocese’s program to safeguard children helps remind us of these very facts. With the help of this program, the faithful are guided and educated about the responsibility of how to keep God’s children protected and safe.

Road to Priesthood Involves a Rigorous Formation Process
Seminary formation involves much more than academic study. Prior to Ordination, a candidate for priesthood goes through a lengthy evaluation period, including an internship during which he lives in a rectory and works with priests, staff, and parishioners. During this time, the candidate is judged as to his suitability to be a priest. No one is ordained unless the seminary staff, including the lay faculty and formation adviser, concludes that the candidate has attained an emotional, psychological, and sexual maturity appropriate for his age and for the celibate life of a priest.

Internet Spammers Target Kids, Too
Does your child know what to do when he or she gets an e-mail from an unknown person? If you are allowing your children to communicate with others online, be aware that they will be exposed to spam. The easiest way to avoid spam is to make sure that your children do not give out their personal information or e-mail address to anyone they do not know. Adjust the security settings on their e-mail account to filter or block unwanted messages. Encourage your children to delete any messages they get from anyone they don’t know. Even when your children get e-mail or instant messages from people they know, make sure that they scan everything they are downloading for viruses first. You can do this by making sure that you have your anti-virus software up to date.

What is “Relational Bullying”?
Relational bullying is unwarranted, persistent, unwelcome behavior in the form of criticism, isolation, or fabricated allegations that can damage relationships. Examples include social exclusion (“You can’t be with us”), spreading rumors (“Did you hear…?), and withholding friendship (“I won’t be your friend if you …”). Though relational bullying can often seem ambiguous to outside observers and often garners less attention than physical bullying or verbal bullying, it should not be discounted simply as normal, adolescent behavior. In fact, several recent studies suggest relational bullying is more strongly related to emotional distress and teen depression than any other form of bullying. Make sure your child’s school does not tolerate such behavior among its students.
For more information on learning how you can help ensure the safety of children, you may call the Office for Child Advocacy at 617-746-5994.

Test your Knowledge of Abuse Prevention: True or False?
True or false: It is common for both child and adult victims of sexual assault to wait some time before telling someone about the abuse. True. It is common for victims of sexual assault to wait some time before telling someone. When the person was assaulted as a child, he or she may wait years or decades. The reasons for this are numerous: victims may want to deny the fact that someone they trusted could do this to them; they may want to just put it behind them; they may believe the myth that they caused the assault by their behavior; or they may fear how other people will react to the truth.

Can You Pass the “Blog Beware” Quiz?
Internet blogs and other social networking sites have recently exploded in popularity and in the news. The number of MySpace.com users is currently estimated at more than 67 million. The majority of activity on these and other youth-oriented Web sites is positive. However, we’ve all read stories of how those who would harm children use these sites to lure children and teens into inappropriate discussions. To combat this danger, www.netsmartz.org offer a wide range of Internet safety resources for parents and children. Start by taking the “Blog Beware” quiz. For kids, there’s a related site: www.netsmartzkids.org.
For more information on learning how you can help ensure the safety of children, you may call the Office for Child Advocacy at 617-746-5994.

Learn to “Stop” Inappropriate Activity Before It Happens
Child safety tip: Teach your child to respect the word “stop!” Teach your preschooler that “stop” means “stop”, and that your child has the right to stop people from touching his or her body. Obviously, exceptions will have to be made for doctors and parents, but even parents must listen when a child doesn’t want to be tickled or hugged anymore. Reinforcing this excellent lesson gives your child the power to recognize-and to stop- “bad touching” by others if it should happen.
For more information on learning how you can help ensure the safety of children, you may call the Office for Child Advocacy at 617-746-5994.



For particular help you may call the Office for Child Advocacy at 617-746-5994.

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There are established Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Children in the Archdiocese of Boston. Use the below links to see specific portions of the Policies and Procedures or visit the Rectory to read the policies in their entirety.

Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Children
http://www.rcab.org/Administration/Policy/HomePage.html

Index
http://www.rcab.org/Administration/Policy/CAPintro.pdf

I. General Provisions
http://www.rcab.org/Administration/Policy/CAPsectionI.pdf

II. Handling complaints
http://www.rcab.org/Administration/Policy/CAPsection2.pdf

III. Appendices
http://www.rcab.org/Administration/Policy/CAPsection3.pdf