Third-Party Use of Facilities and Sexual Abuse Risk

Observations for Camps, Conference Centers, Colleges and Churches Any activity or locale where children are gathered engenders the risk of sexual abuse. Many of these gatherings take place in camps, conference centers, colleges and churches. All child-serving organizations should make reasonable effort to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse. What constitutes ‘reasonable’ effort is…

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Sexual Abuse Fire Drill

Put Preparation to the Test  In classrooms across the country, school administrators lead faculty and students through mock disasters (fires, shootings, bomb threats, tornados, etc.) to ensure the existence of sound safety plans, communicate expectations to all involved, and determine any necessary changes or improvements. A failure to drill potential disasters can lead to catastrophic…

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Church Employees Arrested/Charged for Failure to Report Sexual Abuse

Five employees at Victory Christian Church in Tulsa, OK arrested for two-week delay in notifying authorities of sexual abuse allegations Brief Facts Chris Denman and Israel Castillo, both members of Victory Christian Church  (VCC), were both recently hired as janitors in the same department.   In August, Castillo allegedly raped a 13 year-old girl at the…

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Sexual Abuse Awareness Training Required at Texas Colleges and Universities – Senate Bill 1414

Effective September 1, 2011 On June 17, 2011, the Texas Governor signed SB 1414, which creates new requirements for ‘institutions of higher education’ that provide or host campus programs for minors.  Sexual Abuse Awareness Training is now required by the newly enacted Section 51.976 of the Texas Education Code. What is a ‘Campus Program for…

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Texas SB 471 – Changes in the Law for Child Placing Agencies and Day Care Centers – Preventing Sexual Abuse and Maltreatment

Gregory S. Love, Esq Kimberlee D. Norris, Esq in mid-June 2011, the Governor of Texas signed SB 471 into law, amending current laws related to public schools, charter schools, daycare centers, and child-placing agencies. The overarching purpose of SB 471 requires child abuse and neglect training and policies in schools and child care facilities.  Though entities who are impacted…

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