Safe Environment Education

ARCHDIOCESE OF MILWAUKEE
SAFEGUARDING ALL OF GOD’S FAMILY
SAFE ENVIRONMENT WEEK – PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, Safe Environment Week is for every parish and school, as well as the entire
faith community to focus, at the same time, on the importance of keeping our children
and youth safe;
WHEREAS, child abuse and neglect are societal problems whose prevention depend on
involvement among people throughout the faith community;
WHEREAS, our children are our most valuable resources and will shape the future of
not only the Archdiocese of Milwaukee but also the entire Church;
WHEREAS, the theme for this years’ Safe Environment Week will be “Working Together
Towards Recognizing Abuse to Build Safe Communities.”
WHEREAS, acknowledging that as a Church we have much work to do to rebuild the
trust that has been broken;
WHEREAS, we acknowledge that as bishops, clergy and church leaders we must work
together as a community to increase awareness about child abuse and neglect and work
to promote the social and emotional well-being of children, youth and families in a safe,
healthy and nurturing environment;
THEREFORE, I, Archbishop Jeffrey S. Grob proclaim the week of March 30th– April
6th, 2025 as Safe Environment Week in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. I ask that all
participate and acknowledge each other with the love and mercy of God the Father.
Most Reverend Jeffrey S. Grob
Archbishop of Milwaukee

Did You Know…

The Safe Environment Program in the Catholic Church is not only making our parishes and

schools safe places for our children, youth, and vulnerable adults. We hope that all clergy,
employees, and volunteers’ task themselves with protecting the young and vulnerable in their
workplaces, neighborhoods, communities, and even their own homes. Our goal is greater
than just safe environments within the four walls of our parishes and schools, but safer
communities for all God’s children to live, learn and grow.
Did You Know…
In 2024, in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, 267 Safe Environment Education Sessions
were conducted with over 5,500 adults trained in identifying signs of abuse and neglect,
over 8,900 criminal background checks were conducted on clergy, employees, and
volunteers, and about 43,000 children were trained in Safe Environment topics. Every
year in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, each parish and school are required to complete a
report documenting their compliance with the Safe Environment Program’s policies and
procedures. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee Safe Environment Office uses those reports
to compile an archdiocesan report for USCCB audit firm Stonebridge Partners on our
archdiocesan compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has been found compliant every year since 2004.
Did You Know…
All clergy, employees and volunteers are instructed to contact local law enforcement or Child
Protective Services immediately if they are made aware of a child being sexually abused. All
bishops, priests, deacons lay parish/school staffs, and volunteers are required to follow the
mandatory reporting laws of the State of Wisconsin. In Wisconsin, all clergy and all school
employees are considered mandatory reporters and can face legal penalties for failing to
report suspected or known child abuse or neglect.
Did You Know…
All seminarians and candidates for the Permanent Diaconate in the Archdiocese of
Milwaukee undergo criminal background checks, Safe Environment Education training in
child abuse prevention, interviews, psychological evaluations, classes and workshops on
human sexuality, and mandatory reporter training.
Did You Know…
All clergy, employees, and volunteers are required to meet all of the requirements of safe
environment certification. Certification includes participating in training on recognizing signs
of abuse and neglect, identifying grooming behaviors, training in maintaining boundaries, and
mandatory reporting; reviewing the Code of Ethical Standards and the Social Media and Digital
Communication Policy, and undergoing a criminal background check. Certification is required
prior to beginning ministry and subsequently every five years.
Did You Know…
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has a Victim Assistance Coordinator that assists survivors of sexual
abuse to navigate through the process of reporting abuse and receiving counselling services. The
Victim Assistance Coordinator can be reached at (414) 758-2232.
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee also has a third-party reporting mechanism for misconduct through
Convercent. All mandatory reporting laws in the State of Wisconsin are required to be followed
with all reports to the Archdiocese of Milwaukee or Convercent. A report of abuse can also be
made through the Advocate Aurora Healing Center or directly reported to the appropriate civil
authorities.
Did You Know…
No priest or deacon with a substantiated allegation of sexual abuse of a minor can or will ever serve
as a priest or deacon in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
Did You Know…
In the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, a Diocesan Review Board reviews allegations against clergy
involving abuse of a minor and serves as an instrument to help hold our diocese accountable.