1. The director assists persons in making a report of sexual abuse and obtaining resources intended to help restore wholeness. Although the director does not function as a therapist to victims or to determine the truthfulness of reports, her job is to provide compassionate help to survivors of sexual abuse.

   All reports of sexual abuse are forwarded to civil authorities. If civil authorities cannot take action, processes of independent investigation and review by the Diocesan Review Board occur, so that all priests and deacons with substantiated allegations of sexual abuse are permanently removed from ministry, in compliance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People .

2. The director provides consultation to parish and school personnel in specific situations about how to report all instances of suspected abuse of children.

Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response Services staff can be reached at (414) 769-3436 or (414) 769-3533.

A very important component of prevention is the archdiocese's Safeguarding All of God's Family program for all parishes and schools. All paid personnel and volunteers who interact regularly with children must undergo mandatory training to recognize the dynamics of childhood sexual abuse and to understand their reporting responsibilities. Children in all classrooms and religious education programs are educated to recognize, resist, and report abuse.

A Community Advisory Board composed of representatives from various social services agencies and experts in the area of sexual abuse assists this office in its mission.

For more information on the Archdiocese of Milwaukee's committed to helping victims/survivors of sexual abuse and to protect children, please visit this link.