Circle of Grace Safe Environment Training Program

Introduced for the 2019/2020 program year, Circle of Grace® is an alternative safe-environment program options, developed by the Archdiocese of Omaha for parishes to use for grades Kindergarten through Twelfth grade. It provides a developed pedagogy and didactic lessons aimed at educating and informing youth about the value of positive and virtuous relationships with God and others.

A Licensed Product

Circle of Grace® is a facilitated discussion and conforms to the USCCB requirement for the training of children in Catholic youth programs in the Diocese of Arlington. It is a licensed product requiring more involvement from the OPCYP in implementation.

About the program

Through Circle of Grace, adults assist children and youth to recognize that each of us lives within a Circle of Grace that holds our very essence in body, mind, heart, soul, and sexuality. Circle of Grace is not a sex education program which the Diocese of Arlington reserves to parents. Children and youth are taught to identify and maintain appropriate physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual boundaries; recognize when boundary violations are about to occur; and demonstrate how to take action when boundaries are threatened or violated. Circle of Grace provides a strong parent component in which parents can actively participate in their children's education and formation.

Sample Curriculum & Program Overview
Circle of Grace teaches:

  • God's presence and assistance in difficult and confusing situations as an essential component in its K-12 curriculum
  • A philosophy that can be used throughout the year as a concept that reinforces God's real presence in our lives, respect and skills of how to make good choices
  • The sacredness of each person and how relationships are called to be experiences of divine love
  • Beyond the “safe-touch” models by addressing the whole person thus is able to teach how boundary violations can occur through all of our senses
  • A holistic approach giving children and youth the skills to identify uncomfortable situations long before inappropriate touch occurs
  • Children and youth to identify the “trusted adults” in their lives in addition to their parents
  • Parents by informative letters, lesson handouts and education material

SEE SAMPLE CURRICULUM

Every Director of Religious Education has been provided the Circle of Grace curricula which is available for parental review.