To help ensure that your council is compliant for Fraternal Year End, be sure to have all safe environment appointments made no later than May 1, 2022, as ALL safe environment requirements must be completed within 30 days of appointment.
Email addresses unique to each member will be mandatory for members to retain access, and be counted towards, a council’s safe environment compliance for Fraternal Year End 2021-22. PLEASE NOTE: generic emails will no longer work, e.g., gkcouncil1@gmail.com will no longer work; personal emails are required as user ids to ensure that members retain full credit for completing their training and background checks.
Vigilant for signs of abuse, we're leading the Knights of Columbus’ initiative to protect children and other vulnerable persons we serve.
Vigilant for signs of abuse, we're leading the Knights of Columbus’ initiative to protect children and other vulnerable persons we serve.
(203) 800-4940 FAX: (855) 845-3502
youthleader@kofc.org(203) 752-4558 FAX: (855) 845-3502
oyp@kofc.orgNational Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453)
https://www.childhelp.org/
CyberTipline: 1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678) CyberTipline.org
Child Welfare Information Gateway: 1-800-394-3366 https://www.childwelfare.gov/
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
https://www.rainn.org/
Polaris U.S. National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
http://polarisproject.org
National Human Trafficking Hotline: 1-888-373-7888
Text 233733
https://humantraffickinghotline.org/
National Center on Sexual Exploitation: 1-202-393-7245
https://endsexualexploitation.org/
UNITED STATES:
To report an allegation of abuse or mishandling of allegations of sexual abuse by a bishop in the United States, call 1-800-276-1562 or visit https://www.reportbishopabuse.org
How to Report Abuse, https://www.usccb.org/committees/protection-children-young-people/how-report-abuse (Committee For the Protection of Children & Young People, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
For your local diocesan or eparchial victim assistance coordinator http://www.usccb.org/vac to find contact information
CANADA
To report an allegation of abuse or mishandling of allegations of sexual abuse by a bishop in Canada, call 1-866-892-3737 or visit https://bishopreportingsystem.ca/
Reporting and Resources for Victims, https://www.cccb.ca/about/responsible-ministry/reporting-and-resources-for-victims/ (Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops)
For the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishop's "Responsible Ministry" resources, visit https://www.cccb.ca/about/responsible-ministry/
* Does not fulfill legal reporting requirements
Protecting Our Children: A Family’s Response to Sexual Abuse, a short documentary film produced by the Knights of Columbus, offers families a deeply personal and practical account of how one Knight and his family addressed their son’s abuse by a close family friend. The film presents parents with the scope and scale of the risks families face from sexual abuse in today’s society and provides them with knowledge and concrete steps they can follow to help keep their children safe. Click here to view the accompanying Guide For Families, a practical resource that contains useful information to help families protect their children from the risk of abuse.
A short video providing an overview of the aims and objectives of the Protecting Our Children educational program.
Dr. Monica Applewhite describes how to watch for boundary violations and provides effective words to use when faced with potentially inappropriate behaviors.
Disclosure of sexual abuse can be a series of conversations over time. Jeff and his son talk about their relationship leading up to his disclosure.
After sexual abuse is disclosed or suspected, there may be a legal obligation to report to authorities.
Forensic interviews are vital to the prosecution of child sexual abuse offenders.
Jeff and Judy talk about the many sources of support they received to help protect their marriage and family.
“Protecting our children is the sacred duty of every Knight.” – Supreme Knight Patrick Kelly
State Deputies
State Advocates
State Program Directors
State Youth Directors
State Community Directors
State Family Directors
State Squire Chairmen
Grand Knights
Program Directors
Community Directors
Family Directors
Chief Counselors (Squires)
Counsellors (Squires)
Members not listed on the other button, are encouraged to take the training as well by pressing the blue button.
The Registration Code is kofcsafe.
Please Note: If a member is later appointed to a role listed on the other button, the member may be required to retake the training in that role.
Everything you need to know to ensure a council’s compliance with the Order’s Safe Environment Program for Fraternal Year 2022-2023.
Your council's guide to how the Order's Safe Environment Program works. Brother Knights working together to protect children and stay vigilant for any signs of abuse.
Before all programs, events, and activities in which minors are present, the Family Director and/or Community Director, along with the Grand Knight, shall call a short meeting of all volunteers participating in that activity sponsored by the council. All participating volunteers shall be provided with copies of these Safe Environment Best Practices.
The Knights of Columbus Office of Youth Protection works collaboratively with dioceses to fulfill our shared mission to protect minors and vulnerable persons.
Key leaders in the Knights of Columbus have a special role in protecting minors participating in programs, events, and activities sponsored by the Knights of Columbus. They should take time to familiarize themselves with the important policies, procedures, and best practices regarding abuse prevention, detection, and reporting in this handbook.
Background check authorization forms for members in the following roles: State Family Director, State Community Director, State Youth Director, State Squire Chairman, Columbian Squires, Counselors, Council Family, and Community Directors.
Our cooperative approach toward diocesan safe environment programs is expressed in our guidance to council leaders concerning member compliance with diocesan safe environment requirements. The first requirement of our safe environment program is for our members to be compliant with diocesan safe environment requirements applicable to members’ volunteer activities on parish property. We invite diocesan safe environment coordinators and victim assistance coordinators to contact us directly with all questions and concerns that relate to the Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus Safe Environment Program is operated in conjunction with PRAESIDIUM, which specializes in preventing sexual abuse in organizations that serve youth and vulnerable adults. Our online training modules cover sexual abuse awareness and prevention, reporting, and policies, and are available to all our members, but required for members volunteering in key leadership roles. Members volunteering to serve in key leadership roles are also required to complete a screening process, including a robust and comprehensive background check. For more information on how Knights of Columbus and dioceses work together to protect our children and other vulnerable persons, click on the Office of Youth Protection Informational Overview and this helpful Diagram.
REFERENCES
Safe Environment Program Best Practices
MEMBER HELPLINE
(203) 800-4940
FAX: (855) 845-3502
OFFICE OF YOUTH PROTECTION
(203) 752-4558
FAX: (855) 845-3502
1-844-KOFC-SAFE
(1-844-563-2723)
National Child Abuse Hotline:
1-800-4-A-Child (1-800-422-4453)
CyberTipline:
1-800-THE-LOST (843-5678)
National Sexual Assault Hotline:
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)