Virtus Training? Do you know anything about it?

[StMichael]

[quote name='notardillacid' post='963765' date='Apr 27 2006, 10:20 PM']
You are wrong kateri. Virtus is being implemented in my archdiosese. (st. paul). It is horrible and it is for kids. VERY YOUNG kids as well as older kids. Popestpius is right on this one. It is a dangerous program. as a side note, its creating company has ties to planned parenthood.
[/quote]


Who is the creating company and how do you know it has ties to planned infantcide?

Please let me know as soon as you can.

thanks.

[YMNolan]

yikes, I had no idea about some of this stuff.

[quote]There are two different programs we're talking about here. You're talking about the training our Diocese is calling Child Lures. They're talking about the Protecting God's Children program for 18+. They're two different programs...and they're both carp.

I've been trained, and had a background check done on me. I've also filled out several volunteer applications. I basically can't be alone in a room with my sister according to the rules of the Diocese. [/quote]

az - you're spot on with that. I have to go to great length's to "protect myself". there's a ton of rules, which I guess some are very understandable but very tough to deal.

[Iacobus]

I did it. It was pretty boring. But then again, I did it with a few other college kids and let us just say the level of the program was far below us. But they gave us free donuts...

[journeyman]

The program in our Diocese is the "Protecting God's Children" version. All adults who do or may work with children are required to attend the course.

There aren't a lot of surprises in the training, especially if you have received training in other contexts (Boy Scouts "Guide to Safe Scouting" for example). The "buddy system" protects the adult volunteers almost as much as it protects the children.

Where I have a concern is that many who take the training think it is a "one shot" deal. It isn't set up that way. Virtus sends out monthly bulletins to be read. Again, they aren't rocket science, but they serve the purpose of reminding the adult that there are bad people out there, and our job is to protect not only our children, but all the children in the Church. They also provide a vehicle for spreading the word on situations unfamiliar to some older people where the children could be at risk, even though it doesn't seem immediately obvious. My second concern is that the Dioceses and parishes will think the training is "all" that is needed, and will no longer maintain the "official" review mechanism for investigating and dealing with the allegations that will inevitably continue to arise. Part of the reason for the widespread allegations of abuse of children is because the Church did not identify this as a real problem . . . until it was a huge problem.

Virtus may not be perfect . . . but it is one of the few alternatives available, and if the Diocese has elected this route, encourage them by attending, reflecting upon, commenting upon, and improving the program so that never again will we have to face a society that thinks we condone, or even worse, encourage, the sort of behavior that led to the introduction of the program.

[ardillacid]

[quote name='StMichael' post='964197' date='Apr 28 2006, 12:15 PM']
Who is the creating company and how do you know it has ties to planned infantcide?

Please let me know as soon as you can.

thanks.
[/quote]
[url="http://www.catholicparents.org/Virtus.html"]http://www.catholicparents.org/Virtus.html[/url]

[Lil Red]

thanks, notardiliccid (sp!)! i was looking for that and couldn't find it. i think a Catholic blogger also blogged about this, but i can't remember which one!

[journeyman]

For those who have not had the opportunity to take Virtus training, this is the current month follow up bulletin:

Protecting God's Children for Adults


[b]What Is a "Concern" That I Should Communicate?[/b]

Step 5 of the Plan to Protect God’s Children is to “Communicate your Concerns.” The intent of this step is to raise awareness about two different issues. The first issue is our responsibility—legal and moral—to report to state child protection services our suspicions that a child is being or has been abused. The rule is simple—REPORT! In many states the law requires every adult to report suspected abuse. In some states only those people with specific relationships to children such as teachers, day care workers, physicians, law enforcement officers, etc. are mandated to report, but everyone else is allowed to report. The bishops, through the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People have taken a proactive stance on reporting suspected abuse.[i]

Although reporting the suspected abuse of a child is never easy, the standard is simple. A reasonable suspicion that a child is at risk of harm or is being harmed is enough to warrant a report. The state child protection services will determine whether your suspicion is sufficient to proceed with an investigation. The important thing is to remember that the responsibility for assessing the validity or sufficiency of a suspicion that a child is being abused belongs to the state child protection services agency. It is not your job to make the assessment or to investigate the suspicion before reporting. The responsibility is to report when it is suspected that a child needs protection.

However, that is only one part of Step 5. The second aspect of this Step is to communicate your observations about the behavior of any adult that gives rise to your concern or seems inappropriate. Communicating a concern is not an accusation nor is it a report of suspected abuse of a child. It is a conversation that addresses behavioral characteristics and actions that indicate that someone might be a potential risk of harm to children.

In three previous articles we have provided tools to help you have the conversations to communicate concerns in the most positive and effective way. Those articles are available in the VIRTUS®Protecting God’s Children™ for Adults online archives.[ii]

The question is, however, what constitutes a “concern?” Simply put, a concern is anything that you observe that gives you an uneasy feeling. The VIRTUS program defines concerns as:

[i]Situations that give rise to uneasiness, uncertainty, apprehension, or an anxious state of mind. Concerns arise when a person is troubled by an observation that may affect the welfare or happiness of someone.[/i][iii]

Since the initial presentations of the Protecting God’s Children™ for Adults program, participants have identified several types of “concerns” that should be communicated. Here are some examples of situations that warrant communicating a concern—and suggestions of ways to respond to the concern with solutions to these issues.

A teacher who covers her new solid glass classroom door with artwork.

[i][b]Recommended Response:[/b]When confronted by the principal, the teacher justified her actions by pointing out that the students were constantly being distracted by people walking in the halls or coming up to the door to look in. The Principal worked with the teacher to find a solution to the distraction problems she was having and reminded her that the point of the solid glass door was openness and safety—for both the children and the teachers.[/i]

Your teen comes home from work at the Rectory and says that one of the priests is acting strange. Nothing physical, just hanging around and making her uncomfortable. He made her feel particularly uncomfortable when he hid and scared the child as she left the office to get something from another room.

[i][b]Recommended Response:[/b]Communicate your concerns. Talk with the pastor or the priest involved and let him know that his behavior left the child feeling uncomfortable. If he changes his behavior then the message got through. If not, you must report him to the Vicar for Clergy or the Chancellor of the Diocese.

Be sure to tell your teen that you are taking these actions—even if he or she does not want you to intervene. Teens need to know that concerns about being embarrassed or a fear that someone will think that their concern is an accusation is not reason enough to avoid comment to the appropriate people or risk that it will continue.[/i]

At a youth retreat kicking off the beginning the year, the Youth Minister has planned an icebreaker activity to help the group come together and get to know each other better. The purpose of the retreat is to help the young people build their new group and to plan the year.

Parent sponsors are present and some of them have concerns about the icebreaker. The Youth Minister has asked the young people to form a circle. He then gives each one a toothpick to hold in his or her mouth. The object of the game is to pass a Lifesaver® candy from person to person using only the toothpicks. Some of the young people are clearly uncomfortable. They try to opt out of the activity but the Youth Minister requires everyone to participate in the circle.

The parents raise objections to the Youth Minister who discounts their concerns with the comment, “We have been doing this for years. There is nothing wrong with this activity.”

He proceeds with the icebreaker over the objections of the parents and many of the young people.

[i][b]Recommended Response:[/b] Although there may be a tendency to “let it go” because the event is over and there was no apparent harm, it is important to communicate this concern to the Youth Minister’s supervisor. The fact that he was unwilling to listen to the concerns raised by both the parents and the young people should be a concern to everyone involved. The activity is questionable, but the bigger issue is the unwillingness of the Youth Minister to consider that something he was doing was inappropriate or at least questionable.[/i]

While returning to her room after seeing her students off at the end of school, the teacher noticed that there was an unfamiliar woman in the school library. The school is supposed to be closed to outsiders after the last bell, and the teacher is concerned.

[i][b]Recommended Response:[/b] The teacher went to the principal’s office immediately and reported her concern. Then she and the principal returned to the library where the principal identified the visitor as someone who had requested permission to do some research in the school library.[/i]

As a Religious Education Director you have a habit of dropping in on every class for a moment each week. You notice that, for three weeks in a row in the four-year-old class, the teacher has allowed the same child to sit in her lap and turn the pages during story time. In the past, the teacher made sure that a different child got this privilege each week. Now, there was only one who had the opportunity to turn pages each week.

[i][b]Recommended Response:[/b] Talk with the teacher about what you have observed and ask her what’s going on. If, for example, the reason has to do with the teacher’s perception that the child needs some special attention, find out why and help the teacher devise another way to provide support without raising concerns.[/i]

Communicating our concerns, as Dr. Finkelhor[iv] says, is perhaps the most difficult of all the steps. It requires us to let go of our own apprehensions about the reactions of others and the possibility that they will be offended. However, having the courage to speak up and address situations and issues that give rise to uneasiness, uncertainty, apprehension, or an anxious state of mind is an important part of creating a safe environment for all God’s children.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[i] Article 4: Dioceses/eparchies are to report an allegation of sexual abuse of a person who is a minor to the public authorities. Dioceses/eparchies are to comply with all applicable civil laws with respect to the reporting of allegations of sexual abuse of minors to civil authorities and cooperated in their investigation in accord with the law of the jurisdiction in questions.

Dioceses/eparchies are to cooperate with public authorities about reporting cases even when the person is no longer a minor.

In every instance, dioceses/eparchies are to advise victims of their right to make a report to public authorities and support this right. Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, © 2005, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

[ii] Doty, S. How can You Effectively Communicate Concerns?, VIRTUS Online, 7/22/04, How can You Effectively Communicate Concerns-Part 2?, VIRTUS Online 9/23/04; What if I Communicate My Concerns about Possible Abuse and Nothing Happens? VIRTUS Online 8/05/04; How to Relay Communicated Concerns, VIRTUS Online 10/07/04.

[iii]Protecting God’s Children™ for adults, Facilitator Manual, p. 68, VIRTUS © 2001.

[iv] Dr. David Finkelhor is Director of Crimes Against Children Research Center, Co-Director of the Family Research laboratory, and Professor of Sociology at the University of New Hampshire.

[the_rev]

I have to go thorugh the training session. Given the extraordinary circumstance my mother needs to consent for me to go through the training. That's it. So I am not looking forward to it. Next tuesday!

[Theoketos]

The best thing about Virtus is that it shows the necessity of obedience and execellence from the Church faithful. The consequences of doing something half hearted in connection to the faith are deadly and so...


edit, The above Mentioned Father is a voice in the desert.

[ardillacid]

Virtus is not the correct response to the priestly scandals. Theoketos: you are right, this should not be done half-heartedly....it should not be done at all. There are alternatives much better than this program
Journeyman: what was your intention with your last post? Virtus is the response to the homosexual priestly scandal. This program is not aimed at priests. It is a dangerous program. I have seen what they have the kids read. It is not good. Parishes like St. Agnes are refusing to implement this program, and for good reason.

[kateri05]

[quote name='azaelia' post='964179' date='Apr 28 2006, 09:49 AM']
There are two different programs we're talking about here. You're talking about the training our Diocese is calling Child Lures. They're talking about the Protecting God's Children program for 18+. They're two different programs...and they're both carp.

I've been trained, and had a background check done on me. I've also filled out several volunteer applications. I basically can't be alone in a room with my sister according to the rules of the Diocese.
[/quote]

whoops, didn't know. not, charitable correction is always a nice thing!

i can't believe they have one for kids. its so sad... and yea, az, i completely agree. i can't babysit my 6 year cousins without a supevisor. what a bunch of junk!

[journeyman]

[quote name='notardillacid' post='977156' date='May 9 2006, 10:23 PM']
Virtus is not the correct response to the priestly scandals. Theoketos: you are right, this should not be done half-heartedly....it should not be done at all. There are alternatives much better than this program
Journeyman: what was your intention with your last post? Virtus is the response to the homosexual priestly scandal. This program is not aimed at priests. It is a dangerous program. I have seen what they have the kids read. It is not good. Parishes like St. Agnes are refusing to implement this program, and for good reason.
[/quote]

You're right it isn't a response to priest scandals. It is a response to predators . . . be they ordained or lay; in the parish, the school, or the community at large.

My intent was benign . . . the current monthly bulletin came in (that was it) and this thread hadn't died yet. Rather than speaking in generalities about a program not everyone had seen, that was part of the program work product in black and white, for eveyone to see. All could comment from the same objective basis. The bulletin was certainly not rocket science.

The program I went through is not for children - it is for adults. I have no knowledge of the other program, and can not speak to it's content.

As noted above, under the rules, an adult can't be alone in an enclosed room with a child, even with a family member . . . that's counter-intuitive for most of us. Under the Guide to Safe Scouting, I should never drive just my son to a scouting event. I should never drive the neighbor's son to an event if another adult (or at least my own child or children) is not present. Why, because it puts both the child and the adult in what in other contexts might be called the "near occasion of sin." It's not that you are doing wrong, it's that someone who wanted to do wrong could if they were in your spot . . . so don't put the child at risk by creating the opportunity for an actual predator by following that behavior pattern (by letting the child become accustomed to that scenario).

It may not be the best program . . . but you have start somewhere. You suggested one alternative. How many more can you suggest? How many were possible to implement two years ago when the bishops were ready to act?

If we do nothing, what have we learned from what has happened?

[CatholicQueen]

This Virtus training claims to be offered online however I don't see any option to have the session online. Does anyone know of any diocese that has it available online? Or is it all a hoax to make people come to the actual in class session? I'm sure if I flip through every single option to see if there is indeed one..there won't be any.  Has anyone ever did this training online?????