Safe Environments

What is the Safe Environment Initiative?

The Safe Environment Initiative involves all priests, deacons, religious men and women, lay employees, volunteers, and contract workers in Fairfield County. It is intended to make them more aware of the warning signs of child sexual abuse and how to prevent it. The trainings also provide the correct methods to report suspected abuse both in The State of Connecticut and The Diocese of Bridgeport.

Why is it necessary?

The Safe Environment Initiative is aimed at ensuring that all people who come into contact with the Catholic Church in Fairfield County feel safe and comfortable.

Safe Environment offices are currently in place in U.S. Archdioceses and Dioceses to prevent child abuse, provide outreach and assistance to victims and to ensure timely reporting of suspected child abuse to civil authorities. Safe Environment programs include criminal background checks, Codes of Conduct, Sexual Misconduct policies, and educational programs for all clergy, employees, volunteers, children and youth to prevent child sexual abuse.

In the Diocese of Bridgeport, we have a well established Safe Environment program with a full time director, Erin Neil who is also a licensed clinical social worker. Ms. Neil oversees the Safe Environment programs and provides assistance to victims. Click here to read more on the Diocese of Bridgeport website.