Diocese seeks victims' assistance coordinator

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
June 26, 2003

In accord with the U.S. bishops' Dallas charter, The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the Diocese of Sioux City is presently seeking a victims' assistance coordinator.

"One of the ways that victims or survivors (of sexual abuse by priests) are going to be helped is through the outreach and communication efforts with the victims' assistance coordinator," explained Margaret Fuentes, director of personnel and employee benefits for the diocese.

Ideally, she noted, a professional or a group of professionals with whom the diocese could contract services would fill this position. This is preferred over hiring a full-time staff member.

The victims' assistance coordinator will play a key role in helping to coordinate the healing process and act as a liaison and communication link between all of the parties involved - the victim and their family, the church and civil authorities.

"This person is going to be the victims' advocate. The victims' assistance coordinator will maintain regular contact with the victim - helping them understand what is happening from the church perspective and informing them as to what services we can offer to help with that healing process, whether it is to the victim and/or his or her family," said Fuentes.

While the victims' assistance coordinator will help the victims access counseling, they will not be providing the counseling.

"It will have to be someone who must recognize that fine line between providing support, guidance and direction as opposed to providing counseling services," she said. "This person needs to demonstrate great sensitivity to the victims and their families as well as have strong working knowledge of how these processes are going to be handled not only with civil authorities but also with the church processes."

This person's name and phone number will be made available to general public so that individuals can contact the victims' assistance coordinator directly. It will be included in brochures that will be made available in all parishes of the diocese.

"We want to make this person's presence and their role very well known so that if we have people out there who feel that they have been victims or have had inappropriate contacts made, they have someone they can talk to," said Fuentes.

Intentionally, plans are for the victims' assistance coordinator to be someone not directly linked with the chancery so as the person or persons can better serve as a neutral party. This will help victims feel more comfortable making the initial contact. At the same time, if victims prefer to contact the chancery offices directly they may certainly do so.

"Possibly, one of the stumbling blocks in the past of people even being willing to report an abusive situation is they may not have been comfortable with the avenues available to them. If there was an abusive situation, they may not have felt comfortable going to a local contact - perhaps they needed more anonymity to make that initial call," she said.

Persons that would like more information about this position are welcome to contact Fuentes directly at (712) 233-7510.