Victor Vieth
Chief Program Officer, Education & Research
Zero Abuse Project
Biography
Victor has trained thousands of child-protection professionals from all 50 states, two U.S. Territories, and 17 countries on numerous topics pertaining to child abuse investigations, prosecutions and prevention. Victor gained national recognition for his work in addressing child abuse in small communities as a prosecutor in rural Minnesota, and has been named to the President’s Honor Roll of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children. In 2012, Victor was awarded the Pro Humanitate Award from the North American Resource Center for Child Welfare.
Victor is the Chief Program Officer, Education and Research of the Zero Abuse Project, a 501©(3) public charity based in St Paul, MN, committed to education, training, and survivor support in order to eradicate child sex abuse and remedy its resulting harms. He is the 2018 President of the Academy on Violence & Abuse, and founder of the National Child Protection Training Center. With NCPTC and its partners, Victor has been instrumental in implementing 22 state and international forensic interview training programs and dozens of undergraduate and graduate programs on child maltreatment.
Mr. Vieth graduated magna cum laude from WSU and earned his Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law (HUSL). In 2017, Victor earned an MA in theology from Wartburg Seminary. Mr. Vieth has published countless articles related to the investigation, prosecution and prevention of child abuse and neglect. He is author of Unto the Third Generation, a bold initiative that outlines the necessary steps we must all take to eliminate child abuse in America in three generations, and On This Rock: A Call to Center the Christian Response to Child Abuse on the Life and Works of Jesus (Wiff & Stock 2018).
Testimonials
News
Books & Publications
From Sticks to Flowers: Guidelines for Child Protection Professionals Working with Parents Using Scripture to Justify Corporal Punishment
Despite research and the discouraging of corporal punishment by respected medical and mental health organizations, most Americans continue to practice corporal punishment, and many schools permit hitting children as a means of discipline.
On This Rock: A Call to Center the Christian Response to Child Abuse on the Life and Words of Jesus
Jesus was the descendant of sexually exploited women, narrowly survived a child homicide, and grew up to be the world’s most prominent defender of children. Jesus reserved his harshest words for those who abused or neglected children and went so far as to say our treatment of children says everything about our view of God.
Silent Tears: Recommendations for Improving South Carolina’s Response to Child Sexual Abuse Based on Insights from Frontline Child Protection Professionals
Community leaders and child protection professionals from South Carolina approached NCPTC about conducting a large-scale study of the response of South Carolina professionals to cases of child sexual abuse (CSA) and to make recommendations for improving the system.
Ministering to Adult Sex Offenders: Ten Lessons From Henry Gerecke
Gerecke was a faithful minister noted for his desire to minister to “people he felt more desperately in need of hearing the Gospel message.” This led him to “follow a call” to minister to his community’s downtrodden and forgotten—the poor, the elderly, the mentally ill, and criminals.
What Would Walther Do? Applying Law and Gospel to Victims and Perpetrators of Child Sexual Abuse
Counselors and theologians failing to understand the dynamics of child sexual abuse cases often apply the concept of law and gospel incorrectly. When this happens, perpetrators are emboldened to offend again and many victims leave the church.
USA Swimming Report: Vieth Report Progress Update
In 2013, USA Swimming commissioned Victor Vieth, Executive Director of the National Child Protection Training Center, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of USA Swimming’s Safe Sport Program. Vieth conducted his assessment from September 2013 to December 2013 and delivered his report (“Vieth Report”) with 39 recommended actions to the USA Swimming Board of Directors in January 2014.
Augustine, Luther and Solomon: Providing Pastoral Guidance to Parents On the Corporal Punishment of Children
Although parents are allowed to use physical discipline in the United States, the practice is increasingly limited under the law and many acts of corporal punishment that were acceptable a generation ago are now unlawful.
It's Time to Swim: A Proposal for Developing a Multi Tiered Approach To the Credentialing of Forensic Interviewers
This paper examines the critical role of the forensic interviewer in the investigative process and provides an overview of existing and proposed standards or credentials for those conducting a forensic interview.
Unto the Third Generation: A Call to End Child Abuse in the United States within 120 Years
If we act now and for the rest of our lives as a testament to the invisible attributes of faith, hope and love, a later generation may one day see with their eyes what our hearts tell us is our nation’s destiny.
