Protect the dignity of children and assist those who have been affected by abuse.
History
The Office for the Protection of Children and Youth was opened in 2003 following the passage of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
The Office focused on training adults how to protect children from sexual abuse.
Background checks were mandated for all clergy, all employees and all volunteers who work with children. In Fall 2006, the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth was re-organized to include the Offices of Assistance Ministry and Child Abuse Investigations and Review. The Safe Environment Office was created in 2007. The re-organization of the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth has resulted in the creation of the Children Matter Network and new educational programs for children and adults.
Services Provided
The following services are offered in the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth:
- Resource clergy, educators, parents and other archdiocesan employees seeking assistance or information on reporting child abuse, achieving compliance in parishes and schools, getting assistance for victims of sexual abuse.
- Children Matter Network, a partnership of a number of offices in the Archdiocese, provides child prevention resources for parents, teachers, clergy, youth ministers and religious education staff.
- Outreach is offered for victims of priest sexual abuse.
- Compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People is monitored.
- Allegations of abuse against clerics and laypersons and volunteers working in the Archdiocese of Chicago are received and reviewed.
- Staff members attend parish and school meetings to provide information and/or speak about child abuse prevention.
- On-Going for Kids quarterly newsletter contains information on upcoming training events and programs.
Factual Information
- 200,000 children have received safe environment training in Catholic schools or religious education classes.
- All members of the clergy (archdiocesan priests and deacons and religious order priests) serving in the Archdiocese are in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Every priest has completed a background check, attended safe environment training on the sexual abuse of children, signed the Code of Conduct and submitted a CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) form to the Department of Children and Family Services.
- The Archdiocese of Chicago, Department of Children and Family Services and the State’s Attorneys’ Offices in Cook and Lake Counties work collaboratively on behalf of children who have been abused.
Contact Information
Jan Slattery
Director
Office for the Protection of Children and Youth
PO Box 1979
Chicago, IL 60690
312-534-5254
312-751-8307, fax
jslattery@archchicago.org