Office for the Protection of Children

The Diocese of Jackson is committed to ensuring that children served by the church are not at risk of sexual abuse by the Church personnel. Diocesan policies and procedures currently in place seek to protect, enhance and, in some cases, restore the trust that our faith calls for between agents of the Church and the children and adolescents entrusted to our care. In accordance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People passed by the U.S. bishops in Dallas, the Diocese of Jackson wishes to encourage any victim of sexual abuse by a member of the Catholic Clergy to come forward and begin the healing process. We encourage any victim to contact Ms. Valerie McClellan, Victims Assistance Coordinator at 601-326-3728.

Español: Siguiendo los Estadutos para la Protección de los Niños y Jóvenes, aprobada por los obispos en Dallas, la Diócesis de Jackson desea motivar a cualquiera víctima de abuso sexual por parte de un miembro del clero Católico a que se lo comuniquen para que comenze el proceso de sanación.Cuando una alegación es considerada credible, se ofrecerá asesoramiento, para que el proceso de recuperación pueda comenzar de acuerdo con nuestra política diocesana actual. Motivamos a las víctimas a contactar a la Sra. Valerie McClellan, Coordinadora Asistente de Víctimas al 601-326-3728.

Coordinator for the Office of Child Protection, Vickie Carollo, joined other coordinators from across the region for a national conference in the spring of 2019. Conferences such as these keep our diocese on the front lines of research, policy and safety.

Bishop Joseph Kopacz speaks about release of list of clergy credibly accused of abuse:

The Catholic Diocese of Jackson has published the names of clergy and ministers credibly accused of abuse HERE.

 See the USCCBs Child Abuse Prevention Message 

ACCESS THE EAPPS DATABASE

Safe Environment Training

During the first week of February, the Office of Child Protection sponsored training for more than 500 educators, employees, lay ministers and clergy. The featured speaker was Dr. Monica Applewhite, an internationally-recognized expert in abuse prevention. Here is just a sample of her presentation — an example of our ongoing commitment to the Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal.
The Diocese of Jackson uses VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children, as the initial safe environment training to train clergy, religious, lay employees and volunteers about safe environments.

As a part of the ongoing efforts for the Diocese of Jackson Protection of Children Program, all volunteers and employees will have access to monthly VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children training bulletins. The online bulletin format will require ongoing safe environment training for all clergy, religious, employees and volunteers who have significant contact with children and young people. Users will receive monthly email reminders from VIRTUS Online when a bulletin is available, which is within the first full week of each month.

Once a user logs in to https://www.virtus.org, sign-in with your username and password.  You will have access to read the training bulletin within the training tab. You will be required to answer a multiple-choice question after you have read the bulletin. When you answer the question, submit the answer to update the Diocese of Jackson Protection of Children Database.

The training bulletins are also accessible in Spanish by clicking on “ESPANOL: ACESSO O INSCRIPCION” at https://www.virtus.org and logging in with your user ID and unique password.

We hope you find the training bulletins informative. And, thank you for your continued participation in the Diocese of Jackson Protection of Children Program.

Contacts

Policies and Documents

• Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People-2018
• Bishop Kopacz Virtus letter 2016
• 2016 Policy Proclamation Letter
• Bishop Kopacz Called to Protect Letter
• Diocese of Jackson Policy for the Protection of Children for Clergy and religious
• Diocese of Jackson Policy regarding sexual misconduct by clergy or religious
• Diocese of Jackson Policy for Lay Church Personnel July 1 2016 Revision
• Diocese of Jackson Communications Policy
• Diocese of Jackson Protection of Children Brochure 3.21.14
• Protección de la Política de niños para Laicos de la Iglesia
• Office for Protection of Children Training en espanol
• Protection of Children Training and Record-Keeping for Site Administrator
• Protection of Children Letter of Promulgate July 2014
• Child Abuse Reporting Policy

Reporting forms:

• VIRTUS Initial Training Report
• Children and Youth Safe Environment Lesson Report
• Diocese of Jackson Child Protection Parent Meeting Report
• Diocese of Jackson Parent Meeting Report
• Diocese of Jackson Parent Opt-Out Report
• Diocese of Jackson Application for employees and volunteers
• Diocese of Jackson Application Spanish Volunteers and employees
• Diocese of Jackson Motor Vehicle Consent to release records
• Reporting Suspected Child Abuse (MS Dept of Child Protection Services form)
• Reporting Suspected Child Abuse (MDCPS contact information)

VIRTUS Teaching safety – Empowering God’s Children:

• 2018 – Teaching Safety Program
• Healthy Boundaries Peer Relationships
• Healthy Boundaries Dating Relationships
• Healthy Boundaries Electronic Communications