Oakland Diocese puts child abuse training online

Published: 2006-10-19

OAKLAND, Calif. (CNS) -- Nancy Libby, coordinator for the Oakland Diocese's Safe Environment for Children program, has a dream. She envisions "all of us as a church watching out for kids. We all need to keep our eyes open and to be aware." Libby may be well on the way to seeing her vision come true. Since Aug. 14, some 7,700 individuals affiliated with the Oakland Diocese have logged on to the "Shield the Vulnerable" Web site -- www.shieldthevulnerable.org. It features a new 90-minute interactive course which teaches priests and diocesan, parish and school staffs and volunteers how to recognize, report and prevent child abuse. "Shield the Vulnerable" is a collaborative effort between the Oakland Diocese and LawRoom, a Web-based company started by Walnut Creek lawyer Ralph Yanello 10 years ago to provide computer trainings for employees around human resources topics.

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