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TRAINING FOR CHILDREN

Diocese-made DVDs teach sexual abuse protection

Part of the U.S. bishops' 2002 "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" mandates safe environment training for children and adolescents to prevent sexual abuse. 

This year, the Albany Diocese will time its training sessions for students in faith formation programs to coincide with Respect Life Day, Oct. 4. 

Diocesan officials noted that the date is just as relevant as the message itself.

"We decided to do it in October because it's Respect Life Month," explained Jeanne Schrempf, director of the diocesan Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life (OECFL). "We thought people would remember it better this way."

The session is divided into four age groups. Children ages five to seven are taught lessons on appropriate and inappropriate touching; children from eight to 10 years old are taught how to recognize tactics predators use to lure children; children ages 11 to 13 are given lessons on internet safety; and teens from 14 to 17 are taught how to set physical and emotional boundaries with others.

Since many children in the Diocese attend public schools, the OECFL recognized the need to balance the education they receive in school with a Catholic perspective.

"We really just wanted to supplement what they get in public schools," explained Joyce Solimini of the OECFL, "but we wanted to add a faith aspect, as well."

To do this, Mrs. Solimini and others looked for effective ways to deliver the message. Having noticed a strong reception to Power Point presentations, they incorporated that technology into their teachings.

"It was a very clever, simple way to show the sexual abuse training, so we thought we could run with that and see what else we could do," Mrs. Solimini explained.

Made in Diocese
This year, the OECFL decided to take it a step further: They teamed up with the diocesan Office of Human Resources to create their own DVDs for the lessons. 

Mrs. Solimini sent out a memo asking for assistance from people with experience in computer and film media. When the memo reached Christine Cain, faith formation director at St. James parish in Chatham, "it sounded like it would be fun," she said. 

"I've had experience with these things for other projects, so I felt it was right up my ally and I think it turned out great."

Mrs. Cain has produced DVDs for the faith formation program at St. James, most recently a short film of students interviewing Jews with personal ties to the Holocaust (see a previous story on this at www.evangelist.org). 

Sexual abuse prevention is something she feels is important to teach, as well.

"Kids are easily led. They want to please, even if they don't like it," said Mrs. Cain. "It's just a huge problem in my mind. The safety issue is primary."

Caring for kids
The lessons taught on the DVDs focus on the protection of children.

"It's about God's love and God's care," said Mrs. Schrempf. "That's the message of, not only this program, but everything we do."

"I think kids need to be groomed" in safety techniques, added Mrs. Cain. "Parents - particularly first-time parents or parents who don't have that much experience - mean well, but oftentimes they try and do too much."

Mrs. Solimini pointed out that some adults may feel awkward teaching abuse prevention to children; she feels the DVDs will help.

"A lot of people aren't comfortable teaching this and that's understandable, but if you don't do anything else, at the very least you can put in the DVD," she said. "We truly believe that our children are a sacred trust and we want to help them understand these things and protect them."

(09/17/09) [[In-content Ad]]

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