The Child Protection and Safe Environments certificate program is designed for students who wish to study best practices in child protection from a Catholic perspective. It will draw upon existing courses of several schools.

Graduates will be able to:

• Explain the different dynamics involved in sexual abuse and exploitation, particularly within the Catholic Church;
• Explain the history and current practice of safe environment programs, particularly within the Catholic Church;
• Identify the core principles of trauma-informed services;
• Evaluate policies, programs, and clinical interventions designed to help trauma survivors;
• Understand the criminal and civil and legal systems and their roles in addressing abuse;
• Analyze and discuss different child protection programs.

Graduates would be well-qualified to be diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinators or Safe Environment Coordinators after its completion.

Courses

• TRS 656B / SSS 656C (Jointly Offered): Sexual Abuse and Exploitation
• SSS 655 Social Work Responses to Trauma: Intersections of Policy, Community, and Clinical Practice
• SSS 657 Child Protection: Law and Policy
• An individualized capstone course, allowing the student to apply knowledge gained in the other courses to their field or work.