The prevention and awareness training at the parish level for adults - called "Protecting God's Children," and administered by the Catholic Risk Retention Group under an umbrella called VIRTUS, consists of classroom presentations, printed materials and videotapes that will focus on the prevention of abuse and the protection of children.
The program is required and designed particularly for those adults who have custodial care of children as part of their duties. Training in the signs and symptoms that indicate a child is being abused in some way, and how to talk with children about these issues will also be included, as will training in the responsibilities of mandated reporting and the Archdiocese of Boston's policies and procedures for preventing child abuse. An on-line component called "VIRTUS On-Line" will provide continued training through monthly bulletins and annual recertification.
For more information about VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children", see: http://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/protecting_children.cfm.