We can do better ... we must do better!

What are you reading these days? I woke in the middle of the night! My heart was heavy ... I could not sleep! So, I put the tea kettle on and I decided to catch up on my reading.

I reread a draft of an article on Lessons Learned from Fallen Leaders. I read an email that had just come in – An Open Letter to Victims of Clergy Abuse!  I turned my attention to social media, where I read a flurry of social media posts criticizing leaders for their response to allegations of abuse.  I read the findings of an investigative report of serial sexual abuse. I read a series of incidences of abuse within the cheer industry. The second email was a notification that I am now qualified to get the vaccine. During the past month, I have been approved to be an essential caregiver for my mother-in-law who is battling Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s is winning!

As a person of faith, I find comfort in reading the Psalms and Proverbs – but even there I read of oppression, plagues, abuse, the burden of suffering due to poor choices, and the enemy pursuing his victim and overcoming him. The folly of one’s ways. So, what are you reading these days? Are you having more success than I am finding something that is light and fluffy to read? The most enjoyable words I have read is from my 6-year-old grand-niece that said, “The covid test I had felt like a rat running around in my nose.” When the results came back clear, she declared, “The scientist called and said I don’t have the virus!” As much as these words are precious, I know instinctively, that light and fluffy doesn’t truly challenge me ... provoke me to be better ... to do more ... to feel deeply about the hurts and pains of this world. So, I continue to read .... being motivated by something my father used to say, “There is no retirement when there is so much more work to be done and lives to be touched.”

Thank you deeply for reading our newsletter each month. In reading, you demonstrate care for the protection of the vulnerable sector! I will try to honour your time by sharing one of the most profound things I have read in the past month. The faith community has been once again shocked to read of the abuse and hidden failures of a well-respected leader. The Board of RZIM wrote an open letter having discovered the truth of the abuse from the investigation. Barrie Doyle, our lead instructor for our Crisis Response and Management Course, shared his thoughts regarding the open letter, in a blog post, There are apologies and there are apologies! Later this month, please take time to read the March/April issue of Faith Today magazine article, 10 Lessons from Fallen Leaders, by Patricia Paddey. A Faith Today podcast following up on the article will also be released early in the month with a conversation between Karen Stiller, Patricia Paddey and myself. We CAN do better! We MUST do better!

Ten Indicators we are doing better...

Committing to do better is only the first step. Here are ten indicators and signs that we are indeed doing a better job than we have done in the past. 1. You are investing in your own lifelong learning on this topic through the books you read and the special interest webinars you attend. Please don’t read out of curiosity of moral failures but read to increase your knowledge and understanding of how to prevent abuse in the first place and how to better respond to victim-survivors of abuse. 2. You have invested in the professional development of your leaders and trainers to ensure they are certified and qualified leaders to do their roles. 3. You are training your staff and volunteers annually on abuse awareness, protection, and prevention. 4. Abuse prevention is an initiative of the Board, including the development, update, review, and audit of policies. 5. You have stringent screening protocols in place for leadership, staff and volunteers. 6. You are dedicating resources to abuse prevention – you have a line item in your budget for abuse prevention and the protection of the vulnerable sector. 7. You have a whistleblower policy and process in place that will receive and respond to allegations and disclosures seriously and respectfully. 8. You take every accusation and concern seriously – you fulfill your mandated and/or ethical duty to report abuse. You leave the investigation of abuse to professionals and legal authorities. 9. You are reading and listening to the voices of victim-survivors of abuse (really listening) and not downplaying their disclosures. 10. You don’t let down your guard ... recognizing that no one is immune to abuse ... even the most respected of leaders.

Have You Met Charlie?

Charlie Smith-Brake Director of Policy and Consulting Charlie joined Plan to Protect® in October 2020 upon returning from close to a decade overseas where he worked with Chab Dai Coalition, an anti-trafficking in persons organization in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, as Operations Senior Manager. He spent two years in the Solomon Islands as a trailing spouse and stay-at-home dad. He merges his passion for protecting the vulnerable with a clear understanding of the pre-employment screening sector from his earlier work at BackCheck Canada. Charlie studied International Development at Canadian Mennonite University. He has two daughters, who he loves and protects fiercely, and is committed to winning the “best sense of humour” award at Plan to Protect®... even if he has to resort to puns.

Why is Charlie Serious About Safety?

Are you part of our monthly subscription?  If not, you won’t want to miss Charlie as he leads our monthly coaching calls!

What will it take for you to become a member of Plan to Protect? Did you know that if you are a member of Plan to Protect®, you receive unlimited email and phone support on everything Plan to Protect and access to all updates, plus much more? This benefit is invaluable and provides access to expertise by phone and email. We love chatting with our members. CLICK HERE to become a member today.

Check out our training in March:

March 11, 2021, 12:00pm - 1:00pm Plan to Protect® Special Interest Webinar (Free) "10 Safe Surfing and Online Cybersafety Tips for Smart Students and Savvy Parents" with Cybersafety expert, Claudiu Popa, founder of the Knowledgeflow Cybersafety Foundation. Click Here for details and registration. March 16, 2021, 12:30pm-1:00pm Plan to Protect® 101 Click Here for details and registration. Training that will meet the insurance requirements to qualify for abuse coverage: March 25, 2021,8:00pm-9:30pm Plan to Protect® Refresher LIVE Webinar Click Here for details and registration. March 27, 2021, 1:00pm-3:30pm Plan to Protect® Orientation LIVE Webinar Click Here for details and registration. All trainings are scheduled in Eastern Time SEE OUR COMPLETE 2021 TRAINING SCHEDULE AT www.plantoprotect.com/schedule

Sign up today for the Plan to Protect® monthly Subscription Service...

Experience what it means to do better!  The Plan to Protect® monthly Subscription Service will provide you with the tools, tips and momentum to do better in abuse prevention.  Share the service with your team members and together demonstrate your commitment to doing better! Each month you will receive: The book or resource of the month (valued at $20-$35). Five training registrations for Plan to Protect® training and/or special interest webinars on the Plan to Protect® School at www.plantoprotectschool.com (valued at $150). Discounted pricing on Criminal Record Checks ($8 savings per person). Monthly group coaching call with Charlie Smith-Brake, Director of Policy and Consulting (valued at $125). Email and phone support (unlimited value).

Sign-up Today! The first 30 subscribers will save $10 per month - $89 per month plus tax (SRP $99 per month). Subscribe monthly or annually.  Purchase an annual subscription & receive 1 month free! 

Some conditions apply:  Minimum 3-month subscription. Training registration rollover each month while subscription is active. No other discounts apply. 30 days cancellation notice required. No refunds. Click here for more information!