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The following is reprinted from Creating Safe and Sacred Places: Identifying, Preventing, and Healing Sexual Abuse, by Gerard J. McGlone, SJ, PhD, and Mary Shrader, with Laurie Delgatto (St. Mary's Press, Winona, MN Copyright ©2003). Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.
You may order the manual by clicking on the following link: www.smp.org
Ongoing Prevention and Education
Your community can do several things to inform, prevent, and respond to sexual abuse. The following are essential strategies you will want to incorporate into parish- or school-wide ministries: All young people need to know that their bodies are sacred. Talk openly about safe versus unsafe touch. Remember, most offenders will be known by the potential victim.
All young people need to develop good and solid relationships with peers, parents, and significant adults whom they can trust. Background checks and supervision are simply unavoidable for any adult volunteer or paid employee. Be clear about the procedures and processes required by your diocese. Proper boundaries need to be talked about and respected within staffs and parish communities.
Nothing is more sacred than communication, and nothing is more preventative! Research points to communication as key to prevention. Good, nonjudgmental communication assumes mutual respect, regardless of any information that a child or young person may share.
Open discussion about sexual matters, although uncomfortable, needs to be pursued and encouraged, especially within families.
Do not assume anything about anyone.
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The official site of the Diocese of Bismarck, North Dakota
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