CYP Article: Victim Assistance Coordinators, They Gotta Have Heart by Mary Hart (2007)

Victim Assistance Coordinators: They Gotta Have Heart by Mary Hart

It’s the rare job description that includes the word “compassionate,” yet a crucial part of a victim assistance coordinator’s job is to respond compassionately to the victims of abuse whom they assist.   Since 2002, in compliance with the bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a victim assistance coordinator has been on staff in virtually every diocese across the country.

The formal description of their duties is threefold – to assist abuse victims in making a formal complaint of abuse to the diocese, to help arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his representative, and to obtain support for the victim’s specific needs.

Working closely with those who have suffered abuse, victim assistance coordinators are profoundly aware of the trauma the victims and their families have endured.

victim-assistance-coordinators-they-gotta-have-heart-mary-hart-dallas-2007.pdf