Office of Child & Youth Protection

Child Protection Office- Mission Statement 
The Diocese of Paterson through the Office of Child & Youth Protection is committed to maintain a safe environment for children and youth by reaching out to all who serve the Paterson Diocese and provide sexual misconduct and safe environment trainings. The Office of Child and Youth Protection is to ensure that all locations in the Diocese are fulfilling the church-wide effort to keep children safe from abuse. Our promise to protect children and youth flows from the ministry and example of Jesus Christ. 

The Diocese of Paterson, through the Office of Child & Youth Protection, is committed to ensure a safe environment for children and youth by reaching out to all those who work with children in the Paterson Diocese to provide sexual misconduct prevention and safe environment trainings. The Office of Child and Youth Protection works with the parishes, schools and ministries of the Diocese as they fulfill the church-wide effort to keep children safe from abuse. Our promise to protect children and youth flows from the ministry and example of Jesus Christ. 
 
History
The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People was established at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in 2002.  With the adoption of the Charter, every Diocese in the United States was given the responsibility to create policies for a safe environment for children and youth within the Church.  Our commitment to comply with this requirement has resulted in workshop trainings and school programs on sexual misconduct and safe environment, as well as, the submission of background checks for all diocesan personnel who have regular contact with minors. 

Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Office of Child & Youth Protection is to facilitate the education of our clergy, employees and volunteers of the Diocese of Paterson on how to prevent sexual abuse, recognize grooming behaviors and create safe environments for children and young people in our parishes, schools and community. In addition, the Office of Child & Youth Protection is responsible for tracking the screening and compliance of all personnel in accordance with the Charter of the USCCB.
 
The Director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection:

• Coordinates the implementation of the diocese’s safe environment programs, including the Protecting God’s Children curriculum, which educates adults on how to identify and prevent child sexual abuse,
• Facilitates and ensures that parishes, schools and our ministries comply with the Diocese’s policies and procedures on criminal history background checks.

The Diocese of Paterson abides by the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The charter requires that all dioceses have clear and well-publicized standards of behaviors and boundaries, maintain safe environment programs for all children and adults and evaluates the background of all lay employees, clergy, and all volunteers who have contact with children. In addition, we ensure that all reports of abuse are reported to law enforcement and properly investigated.  The Diocese of Paterson has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Morris, Sussex & Passaic County Prosecutors Offices, additional information can be found here. 

 
Click to register for an upcoming "Protecting God's Children" session

We have many resources including assistance for survivors of clergy sexual abuse, background screening, and information on safe environment programs in our parishes, schools and agencies.