Special Project
Project Title: Parish and Community-based child Protection to Prevent and Treat Child Sexual Abuse in the Diocese of Novaliches
Highlights
Outcome 3
Children and their families victims of sexual abuse in the Diocese of Novaliches to have access to quality counseling and case management services that are available at the Pastoral Care for Children and Vulnerable Adults (PCCVA) office.
Hilom Counseling Center
One of the accomplishment of the project is the establishment of the Hilom counseling center at Good Shepherd Parish compound. The counseling facility is welcoming, comfortable, a place where privacy and confidentiality can be maintained. Face to face counseling sessions and case conferences were already facilitated here. Children commented that they felt relax and secured when inside the facility.
From 2020 – 2022, the project served 68 cases of child sexual abuse and young sex offenders. 29 of theses cases came from the areas within Diocese of Novaliches and 8 cases referred by 3 project parishes. These children as well as their families were provided with counseling and case management.
Online KTCAP sessions
Moreover, a total of 134 children received an orientation on Kids and Teens Court Awareness Program (KTCAP) via online sessions.
Counseling Sessions
The major impact is on child’s stability, change in behavior and perspective after the series of counseling sessions. The families expressed gratefulness in the service because of guidance in case management process and referral network.
Counseling, case conferences, counseling workbooks
For the Diocese to further strengthen the quality counseling services, the Diocese social workers and PCCVA volunteers underwent training and learning sessions in counseling and case management. These training, coaching and mentoring made our leaders and social worker confident and equiped in handling cases and avoid role confusion. Each member of the team felt the support and guidedance of one another.
One of the highlights of the project is the development of Case Management Protocol. This serves as a guide to our multi disciplinary team in facilitating cases whether it is committed by church leaders / personnel or lay people.
Another highlight of the project is the establishment of Rapha Helpline , a helpline which is a special online service that people can call to get psycho-social and emotional help / support in the context of emergency, crisis and counselling needs.
