Protecting God's Children/VIRTUS

Safe Environment Programs

Safe Environment programs were established in U.S. Roman Catholic Dioceses by the Catholic Bishops in 2002 in a landmark document, The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a.k.a. “the Charter.”

The Safe Environment program in the Diocese of Bridgeport has a full time director, Ms. Erin Neil, L.C.S.W. Safe Environment programs oversee the implementation of Charter mandates including victim assistance, criminal background checks, written Codes of Conduct, and child sexual abuse awareness and prevention training for Priests, Deacons, Lay Employees, Volunteers, Children, and Youth.