The Archdiocese of Detroit has implemented several safe environment programs, each designed to help people identify situations that could leave a child vulnerable to the methods of a sexual offender and to emphasize the critical steps that must be taken to prevent and report the sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults. More than 104,000 adults in our parishes, schools, and other ministries have been trained. Tens-of-thousands more individuals have been trained through age-appropriate programs for grade, middle, high school and religious education students.
All clergy ministering within the Archdiocese of Detroit, paid employees of Central Services, parishes and Catholic schools, and all volunteers who have regular and/or unsupervised contact with minors are required to complete Protecting God’s Children training. This three-hour awareness session teaches participants to identify situations that could leave a child vulnerable, the methods of sexual offenders, and critical steps to help prevent abuse.
Children and youth in grades kindergarten through Grade 12, whether they are enrolled in Catholic schools or parish-based religious education classes, are required to take age-appropriate safe environment training programs. Each of these programs use methods appropriate for the age level of the children to teach behavioral expectations, boundaries, how to identify trusted adults, and how to recognize inappropriate and unsafe behaviors.
More information about these programs is available at the links below:
Training for Adults
Training for Grades 9-12
Training for Grades K-8
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all adults who work with children required to take Protecting God’s Children training?
Are adults who take Protecting God’s Children training required to get re-certified?