Building Safe Environments, Strengthening Our Church Communities
- Guest Contributor
- 9 minutes ago
- 4 min read
By Caitlin Burm
From parish facilities to Catholic school classrooms, safety is built into every layer of ministry at the Archdiocese of Denver. While Deacon Mike Daly is hard at work fostering a culture of security across the archdiocese, even partnering with the FBI Denver Field Office, work continues to ensure a deeper sense of security in the Catholic community.
Through its Safe Environment programs, the Office of Minor and At-Risk Adult Protection (OMAAP) equips adult staff and volunteers not only to recognize and prevent abuse, but also to build communities of trust where every person — especially those who are vulnerable — can feel safe and supported.
Alex Kwan, OMAAP program manager at the Archdiocese, explained how the Church is fully committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of the community through awareness, education and action.
A Commitment to Safety and Trust
“Following the framework of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, we provide education, programming and resources around the issues of child and vulnerable adult abuse. We also provide information and training on reporting of known or suspected abuse,” Kwan shared, noting that such reporting is a requirement of the Archdiocesan Code of Conduct that all Church employees across Northern Colorado must follow. “By providing education on the issue and context of abuse — how it affects victims as well as how perpetrators function — caring adults better know what concerning signs to look for and how to respond and report to prevent or stop abuse from happening.”
She added that the training helps participants build supportive communities and foster open conversations, so that survivors know that they can disclose their concerns or experiences. This training ensures that “as a community, our spaces, vocabulary and actions are uplifting to those who have been harmed and promote healing,” she said.
These Safe Environment trainings are a requirement for all adult clergy, seminarians, employees and volunteers who work with minors, with a background check included as part of the training registration process. Compliance is actively monitored, and a refresher in this training is required every five years.
This commitment to Safe Environments begins with adults but extends to every level of the Church community. Thanks to the “Empowering God’s Children” program, young people in Catholic schools and religious education programs are educated on personal safety boundaries, so that they also have the tools to partner with responsible adults in maintaining their safety.
Preventing Harm and Promoting Healing
The Safe Environment program goes beyond compliance at the Archdiocese, however. It’s not just about prevention, but also formation, healing and accountability. In this way, the Archdiocese ensures that every parish and school is a place where minors and vulnerable adults are truly safe and supported in their faith.
Kwan explained that “OMAAP’s programs strive to put the goal of healing — in the Church in general, as well as individually — at the center of all its initiatives and requirements.
“We are trauma-informed in our communications and trainings. More importantly, Jim Langley, Psy.D., our office’s victim assistance coordinator, plays a key role not only in accompanying survivors who may engage the Church in their healing, but he also provides guidance to parish and school leaders when a situation arises,” she continued.
According to Kwan, one parishioner who had felt disillusioned by the Church’s past response to abuse stated that the Archdiocese’s OMAAP restored his trust.
“After learning about current safeguards and witnessing his parish’s dedication to compliance, he said his confidence in the Church was renewed — and he returned to parish ministry after many years away,” Kwan said.
Kevin Davies, a Safe Environment program facilitator in the Archdiocese, had a similar experience. He shared that one of the highlights from his time facilitating Safe Environments classes over the past 20 years was when a participant attended his Thursday class and asked to attend his Saturday session as well — something no one had requested before.
“During that session, the participant, a woman, shared that she was triggered by part of the discussion, recalling an incident of abuse she had experienced as a child,” Davies recalled. “She revealed that her mother knew but didn’t know how to handle it at the time, so it was never discussed. Through the Safe Environment course and follow-up conversation, she began to process the trauma and experience a sense of healing. She told me it was the first time she’d really been able to talk about what happened — that she’d carried it for decades.”
Davies later learned that she had moved forward in life, married and had her own family, and that the training had played a small part in helping her reclaim some peace. He emphasized that it’s about “making the world safer for everyone,” not just meeting compliance requirements.
By the Numbers
85,000 adults have completed Safe Environment training since 2002.
20,000 children learn age-appropriate lessons about personal boundaries and safety through Catholic schools and parish programs annually.
11,000 employees and volunteers are currently active and trained as mandatory reporters.
3,500 adults are led through live training sessions by 200 facilitators across the Archdiocese each year.
“The big mission win is that we’re reaching so many people — equipping them to be the ears and eyes of the Church,” Kwan said. “When communities can talk openly about abuse, they’re far more likely to prevent it.”
Through these efforts, the Archdiocese of Denver continues to fulfill its promise to protect the vulnerable and promote healing within the Church. Rooted in faith and guided by hope, OMAAP reminds every Catholic that creating compassionate, safe spaces is part of living the Gospel.
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For more specific information about Safe Environment training, compliance and requirements, visit the Office of Minor and At-Risk Adult Protection website.
