In response to this recent case, our Chair and Sr. Safeguarding Consultant, Dr. Melodie Bissell, shared these reflections:

“As schools break for the summer, we know that the majority of teachers are wonderful, caring and inspiring leaders in their classrooms. However, too often we read stories like this in the news of an educator who has put children at risk and has caused physical and emotional harm. We need good teachers and parents to stand in the gap for students.

The best approach to raising the bar on safety in our schools is education. Teachers, Administrators and Parents need to become lifelong learners in spotting and addressing child abuse. It is not enough to take training during your university years, or when you first begin to teach. Safeguarding training must be reviewed on an annual basis, applying the knowledge of awareness, prevention and reporting and responding to child abuse against real-life case studies that are surfacing in the news.

It takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to stand up and give voice to children that are confined and silenced.”

The sport sector is facing a crisis of trust. In recent years, the headlines have exposed what many survivors have known for decades — abuse, misconduct, and cover-ups have been far too common in sport.

From grassroots clubs to national teams, athletes have reported emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, often at the hands of those in positions of power. The consequences are devastating — to victims, to organizations, and to the public’s trust.

At Plan to Protect®, we believe it’s time to raise the bar on safeguarding in sport. We equip sport organizations with the tools, training, and policies they need to build safer programs, protect participants, and earn the trust of families. Over the last three years we have had the privilege of working with the sports sector to raise the bard on safeguarding.

Despite policy reforms, elder care facilities continue to face serious systemic challenges that can directly impact the health, safety, and overall well-being of seniors. Understanding these issues is essential for families who want to advocate for better care.

We truly believe that the majority of staff members and volunteers are remarkable — they show up with servant hearts, ready to help, encourage, and love those around them. These people create safe, welcoming environments in our churches, schools, camps, and organizations. But even in the best communities, it’s possible for someone unsafe to slip in unnoticed. That’s why we need each of us — every amazing volunteer and staff member — to not only be safe themselves, and to care for the vulnerable, but to be alert for those who may be unsafe.

Megan is a full-time remote worker caring for her mother, Esther, who has early-onset dementia. Esther is mobile but often confused, demanding attention throughout the day. With Megan’s husband, Josh, working long hours as an electrician, Megan manages the entire caregiving responsibility often alone. Worried about elder fraud and security, Megan rarely leaves Esther alone. Meanwhile, she juggles responsibilities with her adult children and grandchildren, further stretching her emotional and physical limits.

Over time, stress builds—Megan struggles to sleep, loses patience, and begins forgetting essential tasks, including Esther’s medication schedule. One evening, overwhelmed, Megan snaps at her mother, shocking herself. This moment of frustration makes her realize that caregiver burnout is real, and if she doesn’t seek support, her own well-being and Esther’s safety are at risk.

When we speak of abuse against adults, the topic is complex. What makes one vulnerable?      

According to Brene Brown, “To feel is to be vulnerable, believing that vulnerability is weakness is believing that feeling is weakness.      And like it or not, we are emotional beings: What most of us fail to understand, and what took me a decade of research to learn, is that vulnerability is the cradle of the emotions and experiences that we crave. Vulnerability is the birthplace of love, belonging, and joy.” 

We are created in God’s image, and He created us to feel deeply, to experience emotions, and to crave loving and nurturing relationships. 

Unfortunately, often at the most vulnerable points in our lives, we may be abused and harmed by others. It does not mean we are weak, rather that someone abused their position of power to cause harm. The harm committed by others can injure us physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.      

When we began to expand Plan to Protect® to include adults, we initially thought of the vulnerability of the elderly and those with special needs.   We then saw the need to protect those who are newcomers to Canada, the influx of refugees to our country. More recently we have heard of the stories of fallen leaders that we once looked up to. Their misconduct was directed primarily to women whom they harmed spiritually, physically and emotionally. Their abuses of power deeply harmed the church. The list of fallen leaders is long and unfortunately, new names are added to the list annually. 

How do we combat and respond to abuse against adults?      

We begin (as always) by gaining insight and knowledge and awareness of the abuse of power, influence, authority and control. When that power is used to harm an individual and injure another, it is considered abuse. 

Victims often stay silent about their abuse. They may fear they will not be believed, or fear further abuse from the offender. Too often we hear that the blame for the abuse is placed on the victim rather than the offender.

Statements like these fall under the term victim-blaming:

• “She was flirting with him!”
• “He is known to be a liar.”
• “What was she thinking would happen if she dressed that way?”
• “He has chosen an alternative lifestyle and brought it on himself!”

We want to strongly caution you against approaching any reports or concerns of abuse from that perspective. Instead, we encourage you to appoint an individual to be responsible for receiving reports that will advocate for transparency and truth and also to be an advocate for the victim. 

How a "Speak Up" Culture Improves Child Safety
Written by KidCheck; Posted with Permission

Organizations dedicated to children and youth have an excellent opportunity to create a  safe and welcoming  environment by fostering transparency and encouraging open dialogue between leadership, staff, volunteers, and families.

Encouraging...