News Release

November 16, 2006
Counseling Assistance Fund

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Timothy V. Luckhaupt
614-224-7147

FUND CREATED TO SUPPORT COUNSELING FOR ABUSE SURVIVORS

Counseling services aimed at those more comfortable seeking care outside the Church

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Catholic Bishops, through the Catholic Conference of Ohio, have created a new fund, independent of the Church, to help adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The Counseling Assistance Fund is designed to provide counseling or similar mental health services for persons who were sexually abused as minors by clergy or other representatives of the Catholic Church.

Currently, each Ohio Catholic Bishop, through the diocese’s Victim Assistance Program, offers survivors of abuse the opportunity to receive counseling or other assistance to aid in the healing process. This new Fund offers another option for healing.

The new Counseling Assistance Fund will consider claims from those who were abused by clergy or other representatives of the Catholic Church and were Ohio residents at the time. The Web site www.counselingassistancefund.org has been created to assist those wishing to file a claim.

"Counseling is a critical component for victims of childhood sexual abuse who often have kept the abuse secret for many years," said Darla Bolon, a Columbus clinical social worker who has counseled survivors of sexual abuse for 25 years. "It is a great benefit that the Church is making the issue so public and open.

"The effects of sexual abuse don’t end with the abuse incident," Bolon said. "Often as adults, victims have issues with trust because they were abused by someone in the Church whom they trusted. Providing a way for them to work outside the Church is key."

About the Fund

The eight dioceses and one eparchy comprising the Catholic Conference of Ohio have contributed a total of $3 million that has been placed in a Fund with Fifth Third Bank, Central Ohio as Trustee. Administrative expenses are paid directly by the Catholic Conference to assure that all money is available for counseling services. The Fund will accept claims over the next 18 months, beginning Nov. 16, 2006.

The Counseling Assistance Fund is accessed through a claim form that can be submitted to one of the Fund's Counseling Claims Administrators. The Counseling Claims Administrators have been appointed by county probate court judges. Their role is to help an individual file a claim, not to determine the merits or validity of any claim. This is the role of the Claims Award Panel.

Terms of the Fund Provide That:

• One member of the Claims Award Panel be appointed by Lawrence Belskis, Senior Judge of the Franklin County Probate Court. The person appointed is Michael Close, retired judge, Franklin County Court of Appeals, currently in private law practice with Wiles, Boyle, Burkholder and Bringardner.
• One member of the panel be appointed by Yvette McGee Brown, president, Center for Child and Family Advocacy, Columbus, Ohio. The person appointed is Kim Davis, director, Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health, Columbus, Ohio.
• The remaining member of the panel be appointed by the other two appointed members. The person appointed is Dr. James Gebhart, Clinical Psychologist, Methodist Minister, Columbus, OH.

People whose claims are approved may obtain services from any mental health provider licensed in the state where the claimant resides. Providers will be paid directly by the Fund.

• Previously reached a settlement of an abuse claim with any Bishop, Diocese or Catholic entity.
• Legal action pending as to an abuse claim;
• Received a determination by a court as to any abuse claim;
• Previously received counseling or financial assistance for counseling or is currently receiving counseling or financial assistance for counseling under a Diocesan Victim Assistance Program.

A person who elects to file a claim with the Counseling Assistance Fund is not eligible to make a claim or receive assistance from a Diocesan Victim Assistance Program.

Reaching Survivors of Sexual Abuse

The names and contact information are as follows:

"The Church is strongly committed to helping those who have been harmed in the past. It is equally committed to protecting young people from future instances of sexual abuse by clergy or other representatives of the Church, and reporting abuse to law enforcement officials, as required by law," Luckhaupt said.

To that end, Ohio dioceses, over the years, have arranged for many survivors of sexual abuse to receive counseling services. Each diocese has a Victim Assistance Coordinator to help those who wish to report an allegation of abuse.

"Since 2002, each Ohio diocese also has initiated a Safe Environment Program to train adults about recognizing and preventing child abuse,"" Luckhaupt said. The Safe Environment Programs are based on requirements outlined in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. "More than 450,000 Ohioans affiliated with diocesan organizations and churches have attended our child protection training."

In accordance with the Charter, full-time and part-time employees and volunteers of the Catholic Church who, in their daily responsibilities, work directly with children, must attend the Safe Environment Program. These persons also are subject to a mandatory background check.

About the Catholic Conference of Ohio

Founded in 1945, the Conference represents the Church's position before various state departments, bureaus, agencies and other organizations. The Conference also provides facilitation, coordination and joint programming for diocesan groups involved in various Church ministries.

The Catholic Conference of Ohio is composed of the six Roman Catholic dioceses in the state – Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Steubenville, Toledo, and Youngstown – along with the Parma Byzantine Eparchy, the Romanian Catholic Diocese of Canton and the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Parma.