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.
Additional information regarding the education of children and youth is contained in the report from the USCCB, Safe Environment Training of Children in the Catholic Church
CIRCLE OF GRACE©
Archdiocese of Omaha
Circle of Grace is the children's education component of the Diocese of Tucson's Safe Environment training. It serves the dual purpose of educating and informing children and youth about the value of positive relationships with God and others.
Through Circle of Grace, adults assist children and youth to recognize that each of us lives within a Circle of Grace that holds our very essence in body, mind, heart, soul, and sexuality. Children and youth are taught to identify and maintain appropriate physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual boundaries; recognize when boundary violations are about to occur; and demonstrate how to take action when boundaries are threatened or violated.
Circle of Grace from Archdiocese of Omaha on Vimeo.
Circle of Grace is clinically sound and grounded in the Catholic tradition. Its strong parent component means parents can actively participate in their children's education and formation.
After several years of successful implementation, testing and evaluation, the Diocese of Tucson is making Circle of Grace available to those responsible for creating safe environments for children. Already thirty (arch)dioceses have successfully implemented this comprehensive prevention program. Spanish and Vietnamese versions are yours free when you purchase the Circle of Grace program.
Those adopting and using Circle of Grace say it's a user-friendly program with an invaluable "train the trainer" component. Plus, youth who have participated respond favorably.
Why commit valuable diocesan resources to invent a safe environment program? Our experts have done it for you – and the program works! Let us know you have any questions about this proactive and effective new program or if you want to review Circle of Grace free of charge for thirty days.
Sample Curriculum & Program Overview
Circle of Grace is one of the few programs that teaches:
Circle of Grace is one of the few programs that includes:
Parent information in Vietnamese
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 and 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 "Rs" of personal safety: "Recognize," "Resist," and "Report."
To schedule, call 520-243-6420.
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