In this episode, Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist Tim Birt shares with us his perspective on three questions:
Part 1) In what ways are LDS policies and teachings on sexuality harmful and helpful?
Part 2) In what ways are the LDS church’s current policies related to child protection and abuse inadequate or harmful or need improvement?
Part 3) What can LDS church members do to help protect children in their local congregations?
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Helpful links provided by Tim:
Timothy Birt, MS, LPC, LMFT
334-744-1629
*Protect LDS Children and Concerns about Child Interviews in LDS Church (See https://protectldschildren.org/ )
*Recommendations for parents/members to protect their children by advocating with bishops / Stake Presents (See https://invisiblescubit.wordpress.com/2018/02/04/great-suggestions-to-protect-our-children/ )
*Response to “How Mormons (the Church) Approaches Abuse” (Mormon Newsroom resource)
- Church Resource: (See https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/how-mormons-approach-abuse )
- My response: (See https://www.patheos.com/blogs/mormontherapist/2018/02/church-approaches-abuse-professionals-response.html )
*Recommendations for Church Child Protection policies from other Churches:
- Community of Christ: https://www.cofchrist.org/child-protection-training
- United Methodist Church (Safe Sanctuaries) https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/safe-sanctuaries-general-guidelines-starter-documents
- Episcopal Church https://www.cpg.org/linkservid/3F743B4C-06F1-5DFF-86FFB64C8B79DE07/showMeta/0/?label=Model%20Policies%3A%20Preventing%20Children%20and%20Youth%20from%20Abuse
- Presbyterian Church https://www.fpcgreensboro.org/child-and-youth-protection-policy
- United Church of Christ https://www.ucc.org/ministers_safe
- Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake https://www.dioslc.org/offices/office-of-safe-environment/documents-safe-environment/safe-environment-program-manual
*My Info:
- (See https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/counseling-and-therapy-services-auburn-al/210682 )
- (See https://www.mormonmentalhealthassoc.org/mmha-clinical-providers )
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Part 2:
Part 3:
Part 1:
Part 2:
Part 3:
8 Responses
Did anyone write down all the suggestions Tim made so they can be shared in text form?
Did anyone write down all the suggestions Tim made in Part 3 so they can be shared with others in text form?
Thank you for volunteering to do this Tiffany, I look forward to seeing that posted here.
What were those research papers Tim mentioned about how and why kids delay disclosure of abuse?
Tanner it appears that Dave has volunteered to ask Tiffany to volunteer to post that info. But Tiffany was already seeking a volunteer prior to Dave volunteering her. *JK* I’ll volunteer to do it tonight if it’s not up by then. I think Tiff was being a resourceful Mormon is all.
I will work with John to post links to my two lists of suggestions in the show notes. Here are links.
Recommendations for parents/members to protect their children by advocating with bishops / Stake Presents (My 14 recommendations on how members can interact with their local leaders to protect and better serve kids and the LDS Church.)
https://invisiblescubit.wordpress.com/2018/02/04/great-suggestions-to-protect-our-children/
Response to “How Mormons (the Church) Approaches Abuse” (Mormon Newsroom resource)
I give 16 recommendations to improve the LDS Church’s child protection policies and practices
https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/how-mormons-approach-abuse
My responses /suggestions:
https://www.patheos.com/blogs/mormontherapist/2018/02/church-approaches-abuse-professionals-response.html )
– Recommendations for Church Child Protection policies from other youth serving organizations
-My experiences with BSA in by invitation only coordination meeting with other youth serving organizations to improve child protection.
-BSA’s Youth Protection policies and how the LDS Church doesn’t follow for older boys, girls, and toddlers
-Highlights from other church’s youth protection policies (Community of Christ, Methodist, etc.)
Community of Christ
https://www.cofchrist.org/child-protection-training
https://www.cofchrist.org/child-protection-training
United Methodist Church (Safe Sanctuaries)
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/safe-sanctuaries-general-guidelines-starter-documents
Episcopal Church
https://www.cpg.org/linkservid/3F743B4C-06F1-5DFF-86FFB64C8B79DE07/showMeta/0/?label=Model%20Policies%3A%20Preventing%20Children%20and%20Youth%20from%20Abuse
Presbyterian Church
https://www.fpcgreensboro.org/child-and-youth-protection-policy
United Church of Christ
https://www.ucc.org/ministers_safe
Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake
https://www.dioslc.org/offices/office-of-safe-environment/documents-safe-environment/safe-environment-program-manual
Timothy Birt, MS, LPC, LMFT
Love it. Thanks for including all the links and the details. I am passing them along to my leaders.
I’m really glad that there are people like Tim working from inside the church on these important issues. Really great interview. Thanks for coming on to Mormon Stories.