Diocese, parishes ready safety precautions

By PAT PASTERNAK- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Scores of parish representatives met last week at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in Albany to learn how to implement a recently developed program on safety and crisis management.

Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC), and presented by Officer Michael Wilson of the New York State Police in Loudonville, the two-hour workshop consisted of workplace violence awareness and prevention techniques.

According to the trooper, recent violent situations like those in California at a Jewish Community Center and the murders at Columbine High School in Colorado, can no longer be viewed as something that "could never happen here." He said that, in fact, violence of that nature can, and does, happen anywhere.

Indications

Officer Wilson used stark descriptions of how to identify a person who is planning on committing a violent crime and how he or she might behave beforehand. He described such physical signs as a change in behavior, body language, mood elevation or depression, brandishing weapons, and threatening or anti-social behavior, including verbal, non-verbal and emotional indicators.

He also stressed that there is always someone, somewhere, who has noticed something out of the ordinary before a crime of that sort is committed.

Officer Wilson explained that no one "just snaps," that there are always some telltale signs of a person's distress before a crime is committed.

Being proactive

Due to an increase in violence in schools and public buildings in the U.S., the education department of the U.S. Catholic Conference recently instructed all Catholic schools and parish catechetical/youth ministry programs to form policies to protect safety. Two basic guidelines were proposed: violence prevention and crisis response.

Under the direction of Bishop Howard J. Hubbard and in conjunction with the New York State Police, the OEC developed safety and crisis management guidelines for all parishes. Because each parish is a unique entity, the State Police suggested that the safety plan be designed to meet the individual needs of that parish.

On the diocesan level, a task force was formed and guidelines were written to provide the knowledge and security necessary for the hundreds of children and youths who participate in parish catechetical and youth ministry programs as well as for those responsible for them.

Phasing in

Last November, phase one of the program presented the guidelines to parishes in six locations throughout the Diocese.

According to Jeanne Schrempf, director of the OEC, parish representatives were "walked through" each step drawn up by the task force. Each parish learned what it needed to know to keep its facilities safe and to respond in a crisis caused by illness, accidents, hazards, conflict or violence.

"Basically, each parish was required to submit to the Chancery a safety and crisis management plan tailored to meet their specific needs," she noted. "This plan includes a description of parish facilities, floor plans, names and phone numbers of staff that are in charge of program facilities, and emergency phone numbers. We have also recommended that each parish form a safety committee to assist the pastor or parish life director in assessing the safety of parish buildings and to develop a plan for response to any crisis that may occur."

Comprehensive plan

Along with the guidelines, the crisis management packet contained forms to be used for designing a crisis management plan, filing an injury report, obtaining parental medical consent, and reacting to bomb threats. Risk factors and protective factors associated with violence prevention were also provided.

Mrs. Schrempf noted that those involved in any supervisory capacity in the parish, including catechists, parish staff and other volunteers, must be trained to ensure safety while responding to a crisis.

Under the program, parishes are encouraged to recruit and train an administrative assistant who will share on-site responsibilities that will guarantee the safety and security of children, youths and adults in parish programs. This person will be called the "gatekeeper."

"Parishes are also encouraged to network and collaborate with local police and fire departments for assistance with safety precautions, training needs and crisis response," she said.

In touch

Officer Wilson explained to the group last week that in preventing a crisis, the physical security of a building is important, and "that includes a secure reception area, closed circuit TVs, effective lighting, employee ID tags and a secure parking lot."

He urged parishes to contact their local police and emergency personnel to establish rapport with them. "They can react quicker and more efficiently if they already know the layout of your buildings," he said. "Then it will be easier for them to protect your parish if and when there is an emergency."

He also suggested that parishes establish a planning team, design their emergency plan, educate staff members in the plan and practice it as they would a fire drill.

Reacting

He told the group that the goal of catechists in a religious education setting should be to stop violence before it happens, if possible.

In the event a crisis situation should arise, however, he provided guidelines for staff to follow. These included maintaining the right perspective in an emergency, being sensitive to and aware of any possible substance abuse by the offender, and avoiding anger or the use of "power words" or behavior.

He also suggested that those in authority, such as teachers or staff members, realize that they may no longer be in charge of the situation when a person carrying a weapon confronts them.

He also said that awareness of possible mental illness and matching their own response to the gravity of the situation were important factors in avoiding injury or possible death.

"Whether a threat is direct, conditional or veiled," he said, "it is still a threat. If such a situation occurs, it is important to know how to react quickly and safely. Knowing and practicing your crisis management plan will ensure this."

(02-08-01) [[In-content Ad]]