Blog Published

Blog_1332817326735

1332817326735


Risks, dangers and predators dominate our news sources seemingly every day, so as a parent, like many parents, I am always looking for information to keep my children safe. Fortunately, one of the best resources for information, guidance and help is already sent to me each month in my Virtus account.

Okay, maybe Virtus bulletins are not the lead story on a prime time news show, but the subject matter is certainly ripped from the headlines.

Every month a new bulletin is sent to all active Virtus accounts. The bulletins are the continuing training element of Virtus, the child abuse awareness and prevention program used here in the archdiocese. The bulletins are required reading for clergy, religious, employees and volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults. Some say they are the most valuable component of the program. The initial live training session is extraordinary in that it reveals the nature of child sexual abuse and the nature of predators using the testimony of real victims and real predators. While some elements of it are dated, the effectiveness of hearing and seeing these people is powerful.

The ongoing training through the bulletins, then, presents the opportunity to relay more current and topical information. Pat Neal, director of Virtus national, says, “the topics are related to current events and technology-related subjects and even requests from the participants reading the bulletins.” All are compiled by world renowned experts in the field.

In the past year, bulletins have tackled the tough subjects, including one titled “Florida A&M Band, Penn State Football, and Prevention” which dealt with the college hazing death that prompted not only firings at the college but also legal charges and convictions. The Jerry Sandusky case made headlines world-wide. He is currently serving 30-60 years, essentially a life sentence.

Another bulletin titled “Sexting: What You Need to Know, and What You Can Do” required two parts issued over two months. No wonder, given two deaths have been attributed directly to sexting, one in Florida. Just last month the Broward Sherriff’s Office began a criminal investigation of a website for child pornography, prompting the following headline and subhead from the Miami Herald

Photos of nude teen girls linked to Cypress Bay High School
The anonymous online posting of nude student pictures has sparked a criminal investigation, and caused turmoil at Weston’s Cypress Bay High School

Consider another Virtus bulletin: “Before You Send a Young Person a ‘Friend Request.’” While responsible parents and educators continue to find ways to reach out to young people, it has become apparent that we all need to follow new guidelines. This bulletin suggests we apply to social networking the same principle promoted for physical touching: PAN, an acronym for Public, Appropriate, and Non-sexual. (See Virtus bulletin archive search, “Touch (A Sensitive Subject)”)

Consider another vulnerable group, vulnerable adults. We have all seen stories in Florida of investigations over the last year which have prompted an outcry for legislative change regarding assisted living facilities. (None of the facilities investigated were Catholic facilities.) Virtus bulletins have addressed this issue in a four-part series titled, “The Prevention and Mitigation of Abuse of Vulnerable Adults.

Another vulnerable population are human trafficking victims. This issue has been addressed Church-wide, including awareness training sessions held at many of our parishes and facilities. Virtus also tackles this issue in several bulletins including one that looks at the unique vulnerability of those living in this country illegally, “Recognizing Every Person’s God-Given Dignity.” This particular bulletin generated a lot of positive response in this community.

Additionally, Virtus monthly bulletins reinforce the principles learned in the videos shown at the live training sessions, including the five steps for prevention.
  • Know the warning signs of inappropriate behavior
  • Control who has access
  • Monitor all programs
  • Be aware
  • Communicate concerns
Just as a good homily can relate the Gospels to our everyday life and give us sustenance for the week to come, the monthly bulletins can keep us alert to the best practices for protecting the most vulnerable among us.

In the last 10 years of compliance with the U.S. bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, if we have learned anything, it is that where there are children, there will be predators. It is our responsibility to do everything we can to protect them, whether it be complying with the somewhat intrusive fingerprinting requirements, the time consuming three-hour live Virtus training session, or something as simple as reading our monthly bulletins.

As the bishops wrote in the Charter: “…Our obligation to protect children and young people and to prevent sexual abuse flows from the mission and example given to us by Jesus Christ himself, in whose name we serve.”

Comments from readers

Eduardo Kianes - 04/12/2013 02:27 PM
Jan, the blog is a great idea, having a viral forum were the message of what Virtus is all about is great. The monthly bulletin are an awesome tool for us the facilitators as a source of information to use on the sessions. Thank you for the support and your continuous work. God bless you.

Eduardo Kianes, Facilitator, All Saints Catholic Church
Ivonne Magrans - 04/11/2013 10:58 PM
Dear Jan: Thank you for your dedication and leadership in this our precious ministry "protecting God's children and the vulnerable ones". You have certainly made a difference in our Archdiocese and community. The monthly bulletin are a great tool for all of us facilitators but most important a great source of information for every person with a Virtus account. As you watch for God's children and vulnerable ones, He is watching over you! Thank you and and God bless you.
Ivonne Magrans, Facilitator, Mother of Christ
Donna McDonald - 04/11/2013 12:55 PM
Jan, you are a breath of fresh air. Not only are you helping so many vulnerable children and adults, but you do it with grace, tremendous efficiency and boundless patience. Thank You.
Lisa Pinto - 04/10/2013 10:20 PM
Jan, thank you for all you do to expand our peripheral vision and sensitize our radar when it comes to incidences "out there" that should raise red flags and call for our action to protect vulnerable persons. In the age of sensory overload of information, we need your reminders, the bulletins, and summaries such as your blog content. Thank you for constantly directing our focus to where it should be!
Teresa M - 04/10/2013 03:39 PM
Great blog, I too look forward to your annual contribution on the Let's Talk blog. You are an inspiration and your dedication to your job is a testament of your passion towards this cause. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Great advice!!
Linda Ann Luizza - 04/09/2013 10:19 PM
Thank You Jan for your hard work and dedication to this ministry. I look forward to your blog every year at this time. I find the bulletins (many that your mentioned) to be a very valuable resource that I include in my PGC session handouts. Peace and Prayers to you.
Linda Luizza
Sue Barroso - 04/09/2013 06:20 PM
Dear Jan: Thanks so much for another terrific reminder of why we do what we do for the protection of the children in our parishes. We do appreciate what you do for us as Facilitators and assist us whenever we have a question or situation where we need some advice. Your blog was terrific!!! Sue Barroso, Facilitator TheBasilica of St. Mary Star of the Sea, Key West, FL
Shirley Sandusky - 04/09/2013 06:17 PM
Dear Jan,
You are a blessing to all the facilitators in this Archdiocese. Personally, I appreciate your efforts,your professionalism and your assistance with everything connected to protecting our children through this program. May God continue to guide you as we work together in this ministry.

Shirley Sandusky
Carlota E. Morales, Ed. D. - 04/09/2013 03:46 PM
Dear Jan,
Thank you for dedicating your ministry for the goodness of children and vulnerable adults. The Lord will repay you a hundred-fold. Thank you for what you do and for what you are.
May the Lord bless your ministry in this month and always,
Carlota E. Morales, Ed. D.
Principal
Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School
Jocelyn Zlatkin - 04/09/2013 03:09 PM
Thank you for all that you have done to keep this program alive and growing within our diocese. We can all work together to keep our children and vulnerable populations a bit safer.
Elizabeth Das - 04/09/2013 02:40 PM
Dear Jan, Thank you for all your dedication to this ministry. These articles are great reminders.
Rosemarie Banich - 04/09/2013 01:04 PM
Thank you so much for reminding us of the importance of reading our monthly bulletins. As a Virtus facilitator for the past six years, I appreciate the monthly reminder of our great obligation to keep the children in our care safe from predators.
Jose Espinal - 04/09/2013 12:33 PM
Thank you Mrs. Jan Rayburn for this article. It is always very usefull to read your articles. You are a soldier of Christ in this battle.
Those monthly buletin are very hepful, not only we keep ourserselfs up-todate, but we can used some of them, if not all in some of our training
sessions. As a matter of fact I have used, and still use sometimes the article on "sexting", which I translated into spanish. The participants sometimes seems a bit shock when I share this with them. They even aske me for copies, and I tell them the importance of visiting the virtusonline page where they will find these very important and usesefull information.

Than you Jan. God Bless you for all the work you do.
Sister Lidia Valli - 04/08/2013 11:52 AM
Thank you to Ms. Rayburn and to all the effort she is using to keep this program updated and valuable. May God bless you.

Powered by Parish Mate | E-system

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply