Student Teachers Learn The Warning Signs of Child Abuse

Over 130 students in ’s College of Education and Human Services filed into the University Center on Friday to participate in a program designed to help them be aware of children sexual abuse.

The program, titled Protecting God’s Children, was led by James Goodness, the Director of Communications for the .  Mainly attended by sophomores and juniors, many of whom will be interning at Essex County public schools, the program made use of videos and conversation to present the topic of child abuse.  A workbook was handed out prior to the videos for students to answer questions regarding the topics they learn. 

This is the first time in the program’s 12 year history that it was offered to public school interns.  The Archdiocese has been offering the program to students in Seton Hall’s EPICS (Educational Partners in Catholic Schools), and seminarians at both Immaculate Conception Seminary and St. Andrew’s.

“It’s great that (the students) were exposed to the videos they watched, so that when they are in the field, they have a little more knowledge as to what they are looking for in case they see a potential problem,” said Professor Deborah Sanchez, Ed.S., Director of Field Placement and Supervision for the university. 

The videos featured interviews with actual perpetrators and victims of child abuse.  Students were led through examples of abuse and shown what specifically to look for in each case presented to them and how to handle it. 

“I think the most important messages that really come out of this program is that it’s important for people who deal with youth and children to realize that there is a very serious problem in the United States,” Goodness told Patch in an interview.  “(Signs of abuse) will come before (the students) at some time in their careers, so when they have information at hand in terms of identifying what the potential behaviors are and knowing what to do when they do see behaviors that don’t fit what’s acceptable, they can take the action and have the power to know what they can do in the system and help the children.”

Since the Archdiocese began offering Protecting God's Children training in 2000, close to 20,000 adults in schools and parishes have received the training.  Students can also continue to train via monthly on-line courses offered for free by experts in the field of child abuse awareness and protection. 

A companion program, Teaching Touching Safety, has provided similar age-appropriate training to more than 30,000 children annually in the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese for close to a decade.  The Archdiocese also offers a similar course to parents.

“I think this information that we presented to the students today is really universal information,” said Goodness.  "Parents need to be aware of warning signs.  They need to know that they can speak up.  They need to know that they are empowered to be out there and help address the problem in the wider society.”

More information on the programs can be found at Virtus.org.