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Office of
Child and Youth ProtectionThe Office of Child and Youth Protection is responsible for assisting the Bishop in the Diocese’s efforts to combat and prevent child sexual abuse. The Diocesan Response Officer receives complaints of sexual abuse and notifies diocesan authorities. The diocesan liaison then immediately notifies law enforcement of the complaints.
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The Office of Child and Youth Protection:
- coordinates the implementation of the diocese’s safe environment programs including Protecting God’s Children which educates adults on how to identify and prevent child sexual abuse
- investigates all complaints in coordination with county and/or local law enforcement,
- assists Church officials in canonical or Church disciplinary proceedings involving clergy charged with committing sexual abuse,
- facilitates and ensures parishes comply with the Diocese’s policies and procedures on criminal history background checks.
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TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE:
Notify the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) at
1-877-NJ ABUSE (652-2873) or 1-800-835-5510 (TTY/TDD for the deaf), available 24/7.
Also contact Doranne Rossiter at (908) 930-4558,(24 hours/7 days a week) or any of the law enforcement or other governmental agencies.
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Parenting to Prevent Abuse:
A Child Assault Prevention (CAP) booklet for families in the Diocese of Metuchen includes a Parent's Guide to Internet Safety
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Contact Us
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Rev. Msgr. William Benwell, JCLwbenwelldiometuchen.orgEpiscopal Vicar for Canonical Affairs
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drossiterdiometuchen.orgDirector of Child and Youth Protection
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Nevin Mathewnmathewdiometuchen.orgAdministrative Assistant, Compliance Desk
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pgaletteccdom.orgVictim Assistance Coordinator
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The Office of
Child and Youth Protection:- coordinates the implementation of the diocese’s safe environment programs including Protecting God’s Children which educates adults on how to identify and prevent child sexual abuse
- investigates all complaints in coordination with county and/or local law enforcement,
- assists Church officials in canonical or Church disciplinary proceedings involving clergy charged with committing sexual abuse,
- facilitates and ensures parishes comply with the Diocese’s policies and procedures on criminal history background checks.
-
TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE:
Notify the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) at
1-877-NJ ABUSE (652-2873)
or
1-800-835-5510 (TTY/TDD for the deaf),
available 24/7
and also contact Doranne Rossiter
at (908) 930-4558,(24 hours/7 days a week) or any of the law enforcement or other governmental agencies.
QUESTIONS RELATED TO COMPLIANCE:Parish Facilitators or individuals should initially contact Nevin Mathew at (732) 562-2445 for questions related to the Virtus program, processing background checks or listings in the ParishSoft program.
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TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE:
Notify the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) at 1-877-NJ ABUSE (652-2873) or 1-800-835-5510 (TTY/TDD for the deaf), available 24/7 and also contact Doranne Rossiter at (908) 930-4558, (24 hours/7 days a week) or any of the law enforcement or other governmental agencies .
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QUESTIONS RELATED TO COMPLIANCE:
Parish Facilitators or individuals should initially contact Nevin Mathew at (732) 562-2445 for questions related to the Virtus program, processing background checks or listings in the ParishSoft program.
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Protecting God's Children
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In the Diocese of Metuchen, protecting God’s children from sexual abuse is our highest priority. We have updated our policies, enacted stringent reporting procedures, expanded our Diocesan Review Board, and established the Office of Child and Youth Protection, to ensure sexual abuse of any kind will be rooted out of our local Church.
All allegations are handled immediately, responsibly and legally. We work closely with our county prosecutors and other law enforcement personnel.
Any allegation should be reported to our Diocesan Response Officer. Any and all allegations, whether credible or not, reported to us are immediately forwarded to law enforcement.
We have implemented the VIRTUS program, “Protecting God’s Children,” to create a safe environment for our children. Information about that program and our other initiatives may be found on this website.
Sexual abuse is a heinous crime that robs its victims of their innocence and devastates not only the life of each victim, but also the lives of their loved ones. We are committed to doing all that is humanly possible to prevent and address it. Be assured that we will remain ever vigilant and may the Lord bless our efforts.
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