Chancellor’s Office Diocese of St. Augustine 11625 St. Augustine Road Jacksonville, FL 32258

FOR:             Pastors, Principals & Directors of Religious Education
FROM:         Fr. Mike Morgan
SUBJECT:    VIRTUS “Touching Safety” Program
DATE:          May 19, 2006
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In accord with Article12 of Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People adopted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in June 2002, the diocese has already implemented “safe environment programs” for our parish and diocesan volunteers and employees.  As you know, we have chosen the programs of the VIRTUS organization, which are in full compliance with the standards established by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).

We are now at the point of implementing the final part of the USCCB’s “safe environment” mandate.  This final part calls for providing education and training for children, youth and parents.

The Diocesan Steering Committee for our safe environment program has decided that the VIRTUS “Touching Safety” Program best serves our needs in this regard.  This program seeks to assist parents in their important responsibility of teaching their children about safety concerns.  It is important to note that “Touching Safety” is not a sex education program; nor is it intended in any way to usurp parents’ responsibilities in this vital area or child rearing.

The curriculum for “Touching Safety” consists of two lessons of about 45 minutes in duration.  The lessons are appropriately tailored for each of the following grade levels:  K – 2, 3 – 5, 6 – 8, and 9 and 10.  Each of the two lessons makes use of scripture, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, and information about the life of a saint in addressing the lesson objectives.

Parents may opt their children out of one or both of the two lessons in the “Touching Safety” Program.  To accomplish this a form is provided for parents to indicate their decision that their child should not participate.  There is also an optional additional lesson for the K – 2 grade levels which addresses parts of the body.  A child will not participate in this optional additional lesson unless the parents specifically opt their child into this class.  A form is provided for this “opt-in” additional K – 2 class.

Each principal and DRE should by now have received a CD with the grade - appropriate lessons (in both  English and Spanish) as well as copies of the opt-out and opt-in forms.   A booklet for parents is also included on the CD.  Copies of this booklet can be freely reproduced and handed out to parents.  This parents’ booklet could also be posted on the school or parish web site, and parents could be referred to the web site.  Additionally, our plan is to post this parents’ booklet on the diocesan web site as well.

This “Touching Safety” Program is in accordance with the policy approved by the Bishops of Florida on December 5, 2005 in Province of Miami Policy on Safe Environment Educational Programs (http://www.flacathconf.org/aboutus/policies.htm).

If you have any questions please contact Pat Tierney, Sister Lucy or me.

Thanks very much for your assistance and support in implementing our safe environment programs.

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