Keeping Faith: Empowering Faith Communities to Recognize and Respond to Child Abuse & Neglect

Course Overview

This course empowers faith communities to recognize and respond to cases of sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Included are discussions detailing the impact of child abuse on a victim's sense of spirituality and offering concrete suggestions for working with medical and mental health professionals to assist a child in coping with maltreatment. The course also discusses ideal child protection policies for a faith-based institution, including handling a situation in which a convicted sex offender seeks to join a congregation. A review of various child abuse case scenarios and a discussion on appropriate and inappropriate responses allows for real-life problem-solving and feedback.

Session Information

Session dates for 2019 have been announced!

LEARN MORE

Intended Audience

Clergy, chaplains, youth ministers, faith leaders, counselors and other members of a faith community who may work with children or families impacted by child abuse.

Why this training is so important for every faith community

93%

Percentage of sex offenders describe themselves as being "religious"

20%

Percentage of 2864 church leaders knew of at least one convicted sex offender who was attending or was a member of their church (Christianity Today 2010)

I went online to every faith community in my area trying to find a place in which I felt safe to worship. None of them gave me any information about safety policies in their community so I just gave up trying.

Child Abuse Survivor

Join the growing number of schools, youth-serving organizations, healthcare and faith organizations that have hosted this important education!

Instructors

Victor Vieth

Director, Education and Research

Alison Feigh Director

Jacob Wetterling Resource Center

Pete Singer

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker

Agendas

Day One

Time Title Presenter
8:30 – 8:45 a.m. Opening and Welcome Event Coordinator
8:45 – 10:15 a.m. When Faith Hurts - Part One Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. When Faith Hurts - Part Two Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
12 – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2:20 p.m. When Child Abuse Hits Home: Corporal Punishment, the Law and the Faith Community (includes time for discussion and feedback) Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
2:20 – 2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 – 3:50 p.m. Like a Footprint in Wet Cement: Understanding The Impact of Trauma on Children (includes time for discussion and feedback) Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
3:50 – 4 p.m. Break
4 – 5 p.m. Recognizing and Responding to Sexual Offenses Committed by Children Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research

Day Two

Time Title Presenter
8:30 – 10 a.m. Implementing Personal Safety Training in Faith-Based Institutions Alison Feigh, program manager, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center 
10 – 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Cyber Challengers: Policies, Planning and Prevention - On-line Safety for Communities of Faith Alison Feigh, program manager, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center
11:45 a.m.– 12 p.m. Discussion and Feedback
12 – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2:30 p.m. Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse Within a Congregation Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Discussion and Feedback Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
2:45 – 2:55 p.m. Break
2:55 – 4:25 p.m. Small group exercises Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
4:25 – 4:45 p.m. Discussion of small group exercises and closing Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research and Alison Feigh, Director, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center

Day One

Time Title Presenter
8:30 – 8:45 a.m. Opening and Welcome Event Coordinator
8:45 – 10:15 a.m. When Faith Hurts - Part One Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. When Faith Hurts - Part Two Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
12 – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2:20 p.m. When Child Abuse Hits Home: Corporal Punishment, the Law and the Faith Community (includes time for discussion and feedback) Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
2:20 – 2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 – 3:50 p.m. Like a Footprint in Wet Cement: Understanding The Impact of Trauma on Children (includes time for discussion and feedback) Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
3:50 – 4 p.m. Break
4 – 5 p.m. Recognizing and Responding to Sexual Offenses Committed by Children Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research

Day Two

Time Title Presenter
8:30 – 10 a.m. Implementing Personal Safety Training in Faith-Based Institutions Alison Feigh, Director, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center 
10 – 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Cyber Challengers: Policies, Planning and Prevention – On-line Safety for Communities of Faith Alison Feigh, Director, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center
11:45 a.m.– 12 p.m. Discussion and Feedback
12 – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2:30 p.m. The Use and Misuse of Scripture in Counseling Maltreated Children Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
2:30 – 2:40 p.m. Break
2:40 – 3:40 p.m. Help for the Helper: Understanding and Responding to Vicarious Trauma Alison Feigh, Director, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center
3:40 – 3:50 p.m. Break
3:50 – 4:50 p.m. Keeping the Faith: A Call for Collaboration between Faith and Child Protective Communities Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
4:50 – 5 p.m. Discussion and Feedback Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research

Day Three

Time Title Presenter
8:30 – 10 a.m. Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse Within a Congregation Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research 
10 – 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Small group exercises Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
11:45 a.m.– 12 p.m. Discussion of small group exercises and closing Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research

Day One

Time Title Presenter
8:30 – 8:45 a.m. Opening and Welcome Event Coordinator
8:45 – 10:15 a.m. When Faith Hurts - Part One Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
10:15 – 10:30 a.m. Break
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. When Faith Hurts - Part Two Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
12 – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2:20 p.m. When Child Abuse Hits Home: Corporal Punishment, the Law and the Faith Community (includes time for discussion and feedback) Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
2:20 – 2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 – 3:50 p.m. Like a Footprint in Wet Cement: Understanding The Impact of Trauma on Children (includes time for discussion and feedback) Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
3:50 – 4 p.m. Break
4 – 5 p.m. Recognizing and Responding to Sexual Offenses Committed by Children Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research

Day Two

Time Title Presenter
8:30 – 10 a.m. Implementing Personal Safety Training in Faith-Based Institutions Alison Feigh, Director, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center 
10 – 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Cyber Challengers: Policies, Planning and Prevention – On-line Safety for Communities of Faith Alison Feigh, Director, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center
11:45 a.m.– 12 p.m. Discussion and Feedback
12 – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2:30 p.m. The Use and Misuse of Scripture in Counseling Maltreated Children Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
2:30 – 2:45 p.m. Break
2:45 – 3:45 p.m. Help for the Helper: Understanding and Responding to Vicarious Trauma Alison Feigh, Director, Jacob Wetterling Resource Center
3:45 – 4:45 p.m. Keeping the Faith: A Call for Collaboration between Faith and Child Protective Communities Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
4:45 – 5 p.m. Discussion and Feedback Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research

Day Three

Time Title Presenter
8:30 – 10 a.m. Addressing Emotional and Spiritual Injuries Pete Singer, licensed independent clinical social worker 
10 – 10:15 a.m. Break
10:15 – 11:45 a.m. Care in Action: A Collaboration between Faith and Child Protective Communities Pete Singer, licensed independent clinical social worker 
11:45 a.m.– 12 p.m. Discussion amd Feedback Pete Singer, licensed independent clinical social worker 
12 – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2:35 p.m. Responding to Allegations of Child Abuse Within a Congregation (includes time for discussion) Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
2:35 – 2:45 p.m. Break
2:45 – 4:15 p.m. Small Group Exercises  Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research
4:15 – 4:30 p.m. Discussion of small group exercises and closing Victor Vieth, Director of Education and Research