In October, Beddingfield was named director of the newly created diocesan Office for Safe Environment. In that position, she will be responsible for coordinating the diocesan safe environment program required by the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Previously, the Pastoral Policy on Sexual Abuse of Minors by Church Personnel for the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois required all clergy in the diocese, employees and staff of Catholic institutions, and volunteers who had contact with children undergo a criminal background check and complete an education program on recognizing and preventing abuse of minors.

The revised policy was announced in April and requires all volunteers — religious or lay, in any capacity — to undergo a criminal background check and complete the approved safe environment training.

Since the revised policy went into effect, almost 10,000 additional volunteers have taken the training. Results of background checks are sent directly to Office for Safe Environment and are treated as confidential. If the background check should uncover a "disqualifying conviction," the pastor or executive in charge is notified and required to take immediate action.

Full compliance is expected by January 2013.

Beddingfield said reaction in parishes has been understandably mixed, but that once people take the training, they understand the importance of what they learn about providing a safe environment for children and young people.

Beddingfield is a licensed clinical professional counselor, with experience as a therapist and training facilitator working with children and foster families. In addition, she has been a facilitator for the Protecting God's Children training program for the past seven years at her home parish of Our Saviour in Jacksonville.

"Of course, people have asked why they have to take the training and have the background check, since they may not have much contact with children," Beddingfield said. "I tell them that they are an important part of the solution, that even as readers or extraordinary ministers of holy Communion, they are parish leaders and people look up to them.

"Everyone must keep their eyes and ears open and be able to recognize dangers to children," she said.

Beddingfield said that protecting children is much more than teaching "Stranger, Danger!" She said statistics show that 60 percent of abusers are known to the child, and another 29 percent are relatives.

"As adults, we are sometimes afraid to speak up or don't know how to communicate our concerns. Imagine a child being placed in that position. That is why adults need to be the eyes, ears and voices for children — because they cannot do that themselves," she said.

Beddingfield said evaluations of the training program have included comments ranging from the general "This information needs to be common knowledge" to the specific "This will help me monitor my grandchildren on the Internet."

Beddingfield said Protecting God's Children training will be ongoing in order to accommodate new employees or volunteers. Dates and places will be published in Catholic Times (see page 21 of this issue) and are available on the diocesan website at www.dio.org/safeenvironment.

For more information, contact Beddingfield at (217) 698-8500, ext. 162 or email her at .