Child Abuse Prevention (CAP)

The duties and responsibilities of the Child Abuse Prevention (CAP) Team are:

Ensures that all parish staff and volunteers are fully trained in mandated reporting laws and the Protecting God’s Children program (VIRTUS).
Acts as a resource to the parish on issues of child abuse and neglect.
Responsible for training all new staff and volunteers in the parish.
Hosts a parishioner information night to explain its role and function.
Becomes a resource for feedback from the community on the effectiveness of the parish programs.
Provides consultation and support to anyone in the parish who has concerns about reporting child abuse/neglect.
Will be supported in its efforts by, and works in collaboration with, the Child Advocacy Office of the Archdiocese

Critical Contact Telephone Numbers

FOR SUSPICION OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT, contact:
Massachusetts Department of Social Services	www.state.ma.us/dss/
DSS – Haverhill Office	phone: 978-469-8800 (M-F 9am – 5pm)
Child at Risk Hotline	phone: 1-800-792-5200 (24 hours/day)
Roman Catholic Archdiocese Office of Child Advocacy
Deacon Anthony Rizzuto	phone: 617-746-5994
Office of Child Advocacy, Oversight and Implementation	Home Page
	email: child_advocacy@rcab.org
Office of Healing and Assistance	Mrs. Barbara Thorp
	617-244-9603 or 1-866-244-9603