In what has been described by archdiocesan officials as one of the first mass movements of lay leadership development and implementation since the 2003 Synod, laity-led training continues in "Protecting God's Children Awareness Sessions."

Since last February, more than 3,000 parish staff members, educators, volunteers and clergy participants have received training in the three-hour child protection awareness sessions given by 214 facilitators --- greatly surpassing expectations, according to archdiocesan Safeguard The Children director, Joan Vienna.

"Thousands have already voluntarily attended the training and it's starting to make a difference in parishes," said Vienna, adding that heightened awareness about ways to prevent child sexual abuse helps everyone. In the next two months, 51 additional sessions are scheduled throughout the archdiocese for clergy, religious, directors of religious education, teachers, catechists, youth ministers and volunteers working with children.

Once training has been completed for parish staff and volunteers by early fall, facilitators will offer awareness programs for parents. Vienna called the potential numbers of people receiving the child protection awareness training "unprecedented."

Deacon David Estrada, Synod implementation director, said the training effort is "very much in keeping" with the goals of the Synod. "This 'Protecting God's Children' training clearly recognizes the gifts and talents of lay leaders," said Deacon Estrada. "By bringing this new awareness to their respective parishes, they are developing others to better serve their communities as called for by the Synod."

Christina Luna, who organized the training at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Los Nietos last April for 75 people, said the education session provided some "real forward movement" on the issue of child sexual abuse awareness in the parish. "The training helped us to realize that we should be looking out for things and changing our behavior," said Luna.

Among other suggestions, participants learned they should always leave doors open or "partner-up" with another adult when talking to a child alone after school, religious education classes or sports programs. Based on the church's Safeguard the Children committee's recommendation, the parish will soon implement a formal application process for volunteers, which will include some form of background checks.

"Our pastor, Father John Woolway, has been very supportive," said Luna. According to Luna, the church faced up to the issue of child sexual abuse "with honesty" over a year ago and started making its staff, ranging from religious educators to crossing guards, aware of ways to increase child protection. "The 'Protecting God's Children' awareness training is really good," said Luna, an administrator with the Buena Park School District who noted that the public school system does not offer similar training to its teachers.

Augustinian Recollect Father Antonio Zavala, pastor of Mary Star of the Sea Church in Oxnard, said the child protection training he attended May 18 at San Buenaventura Mission with five other San Barbara Region priests and a deacon was "useful, especially on how to deal with day-to-day procedures."

Father Zavala said the church's Safeguard the Children Parish Committee is actively involved in creating a safe environment at the parish. Night meetings must end promptly now in advance of exterior lights extinguishing at 9:40 p.m. To increase the safety of parishioners attending indoor one-on-one counseling sessions, windows were installed last winter in the office doors allowing visibility at all times.

Msgr. Joseph Cosgrove, pastor of Holy Cross Church in Moorpark, said the Safeguard the Children Parish Committee at Holy Cross has been busy for over a year alerting staff to issues of child safety. With over 1,000 children attending on-site religious education classes, the church is very concerned with the safety of children arriving and departing the facility. The committee is currently working on a safety manual for parents and volunteers.

Tiffany Russo, director of education and youth programs at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels and chair of the church's Safeguard the Children Parish Committee, commented that the training she facilitated for staff members on June 22 was "well received." A 15-year career educator who has worked both in public and Catholic schools, Russo describes the "Protecting God's Children Awareness Sessions" training as "excellent."

"I'm really excited about this program," said Russo. "We're having many more conversations about what we can do differently to prevent child sexual abuse."