Diocesan inaugural event teaches injury and sexual abuse prevention
By Chris Donahue
Staff Writer
Sir Buckle Up the mascot, Torch and Duff
the crime-fighting dogs, firefighters, nurses, a
balloon-toting clown and a landing by a New Jersey
State Police helicopter were some of the cast
of characters and events that highlighted the inaugural
Child Safety and Health Day at St. John
Neumann Pastoral Center, Piscataway, Oct. 2.
The event, sponsored by the diocese and St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, was held to strengthen the commitment of Bishop Paul G. Bootkoski to protect children, said Lawrence V. Nagle, director of the Office of Child and Youth Protection.
Nagle coordinates the implementation of the diocese’s safe environment programs, including “Protecting God’s Children” which educates adults on how to identify and prevent child sexual abuse, investigates all complaints in coordination with law enforcement and assists Church officials in canonical or Church disciplinary proceedings involving clergy charged with committing sexual abuse.
“The event is to give children and their parents a diverse awareness and variety of topics in child safety, health, nutrition,” Nagle said. “The facility here is perfect for that.”
The diocese would like to host the event here every year, Nagle said.
Information stations and activities included: the diocese’s Child Sexual Abuse Awareness; St. Peter’s University Hospital’s Mobile Health Van and lectures on “Home Alone” safety, car seat safety and first aid; Piscataway Township Police Department, Internet safety, bicycle safety/helmet use, children’s identification cards; state police, gang awareness; Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office, bullying and drug and alcohol awareness; Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department, gun lock/gun safety and“bomb” canine demonstration; Middlesex Safe Kids Coalition, child pedestrian safety; New Jersey Child Assault Prevention Program; emergency vehicles from New Brunswick and North Stelton fire departments, and scoliosis screening by Dr. Michaeline Callahan, chiropractor.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law