Protecting God’s Children: Resources & Information

RESPECTING ALL PEOPLE

PROTECTING THOSE WE SERVE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN & VULNERABLE ADULTS,
AS WELL AS PROTECTING THOSE WITH WHOM WE SERVE

A Core Value

We Brothers of the Christian Schools who are members of the District of Eastern North America (“the District”) are concerned about each person’s well-being with particular attentiveness to both those to whom and with whom we minister. We seek to make it possible for all people “to live with dignity as sons and daughters of God” (Rule of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, article 13). Our founder, St. John Baptist de La Salle, was deeply moved by the human and spiritual distress of children. In response, he made a lifelong commitment to God to provide these children with a human and Christian education, and so extend the glory of God on earth (Rule of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, article 1).

We recognize that abuse of any kind causes pain and harm for the abused and their families as well as for the larger Catholic and Lasallian communities. We continue to offer compassion, prayers, and direct support for all survivors and are committed to making sure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.

We acknowledge that any types of abuse and harassment are hurtful and wrong. Such actions denigrate the sacredness of an individual and are inconsistent with our values as Brothers of the Christian Schools in the District of Eastern North America.

Protecting Those We Serve and Those with Whom We Serve

We Brothers strive to remain faithful to our obligation to care for each young person and vulnerable adult entrusted to us. We endeavor to safeguard the inherent dignity of all people.

We have enacted clear standards of conduct for all Brothers, members of Lasallian communities, and employees of the District. We have established procedures for the immediate investigating and reporting of any allegations of abuse, harassment, or misconduct to the appropriate civil authorities.

In keeping with the values of St. John Baptist de La Salle that motivate our actions, as well as the recommendation of the United States Conference of Major Superiors of Men, in September of 2009 the District engaged with Praesidium, the national leader in abuse risk management, to independently accredit our District policies and our adherence to proper procedures. Praesidium provides consultation, risk management assessment, policy development and training materials for use in preventing sexual misconduct and responding to allegations of sexual misconduct.

In accordance with the policies and procedures implemented in conjunction with Praesidium, each Brother who is in active ministry and/or is in direct contact with minors or vulnerable adults is required to participate in a series of on-line training courses on a regular basis. DENA office employees who have direct contact with a minor or vulnerable adult in the work place is also required to complete this training.

The District also complies with and enforces all applicable state and federal laws and regulations related to employment with minors or vulnerable adults.

How to Report an Allegation of Sexual Misconduct

If you have been sexually abused by a Brother of the Christian Schools or an employee of the District, you are urged to:

1. Report the abuse

• Contact the appropriate civil authorities in the location where the sexual abuse took place, or
• Call the National Child Abuse Hotline at 800-422-4453, or
• Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-4673, then

2. Contact FSC DENA’s Survivors Assistance Coordinator hotline at 732-380-7926, ext. 128.

• This will open the line of communication with the Brothers of the Christian Schools and present the opportunity for us to offer compassion, prayers, and support on the road to healing.

3. If an incident of sexual harassment and/or abuse involves a lay employee at a FSC DENA ministry, you are to immediately follow the reporting policies of that ministry.

Download this FAQ Guide for Survivors of Sexually-based Misconduct
by a Brother of the Christian Schools and/or Lay Employee of the District of Eastern North America