Safe Communities is part of the Plain Communities Task Force (PCTF) of Lancaster County, PA organized in March 2020.
Members of the Task Force include individuals from the Lancaster community that have walked beside Amish friends and neighbors to provide prevention education, support, or counseling.
GOALS
We work with Amish & Old Order Mennonite communities to provide education and support on issues involving child sexual abuse such as:
The following six handouts were developed by the PCTF for use in Amish/Plain communities.
ABOUT
Press Release: Click Here
February 23, 2011 LNP article: Judge forms task force to address sex abuse on Plain community Click here
August 20, 2020 LNP article: Sexual abuse in Plain communities is the target of task force from judge, nonprofit leader Click here
August 30, 2020 Pittsburgh Post Gazette article: Lancaster task force focusing on abuse in Plain communities Click here
April 22, 2022 One United Lancaster article: Protecting children from sexual abuse: a conversation with Safe Communities' Linda Crockett Click here
April 29th and 30th, 2022 A Better way in Lancaster, PA Child Abuse Prevention Seminar: Click here
May 9, 2022 One United Lancaster article: Revived Plain Communities Task Force targets sexual abuse Click here
August 21, 2024 CBS 21 article: Amish sex crime case sparks new task force created by Lancaster judge Click here
August 25, 2024 LNP article: Amish and abused: Victims, critics say efforts to increase reporting, intervention is not enough Click here
August 25, 2024 LNP article: Amish abuse victims say culture keeps abuse hidden, but new generation is making changes Click here
August 26, 2024 LNP article: PA Dutch interpreters work to bridge gap between Plain sect abuse victims and the courts Click here
September 8, 2024 LNP editorial article: Lancaster Amish children must be protected from sexual abuse. All children deserve to be safe from such horrors. Click here
Members of the Task Force include individuals from the Lancaster community that have walked beside Amish friends and neighbors to provide prevention education, support, or counseling.
GOALS
We work with Amish & Old Order Mennonite communities to provide education and support on issues involving child sexual abuse such as:
- Conversations, materials and education for parents and others to teach their children how to stay safe from sexual abuse
- Information for adults on what to do if they suspect abuse has happened
- Help finding counseling and other supportive resources for healing. This includes support services for adults who experienced abuse as children, as well as child-victims
- Education on sexual offending against children and treatment for offenders
- Information on legal requirements for teachers in schools related to background checks and state-approved training for mandatory reporters.
- Please click here for an official document from the Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Office of Children, Youth and Families (OCYF) dated June 2021 to the PCTF on the requirements for teachers in private, religious, non-licensed schools. There are no exemptions granted by the State of PA for Amish or Plain schools and teachers.
The following six handouts were developed by the PCTF for use in Amish/Plain communities.
- Safe Touch Flyer - 2 Sided Click Here to Download
- Red Flags of Abuse and Supporting Children Click Here to Download
- Teaching Children about Unsafe Touch Click Here to Download
- Grooming Behaviors and Child Safety Click Here to Download
- The Impact of Child Abuse on Adults Click Here to Download
- Mandated Reporters: Keeping Children Safe Click Here to Download
ABOUT
Press Release: Click Here
February 23, 2011 LNP article: Judge forms task force to address sex abuse on Plain community Click here
August 20, 2020 LNP article: Sexual abuse in Plain communities is the target of task force from judge, nonprofit leader Click here
August 30, 2020 Pittsburgh Post Gazette article: Lancaster task force focusing on abuse in Plain communities Click here
April 22, 2022 One United Lancaster article: Protecting children from sexual abuse: a conversation with Safe Communities' Linda Crockett Click here
April 29th and 30th, 2022 A Better way in Lancaster, PA Child Abuse Prevention Seminar: Click here
May 9, 2022 One United Lancaster article: Revived Plain Communities Task Force targets sexual abuse Click here
August 21, 2024 CBS 21 article: Amish sex crime case sparks new task force created by Lancaster judge Click here
August 25, 2024 LNP article: Amish and abused: Victims, critics say efforts to increase reporting, intervention is not enough Click here
August 25, 2024 LNP article: Amish abuse victims say culture keeps abuse hidden, but new generation is making changes Click here
August 26, 2024 LNP article: PA Dutch interpreters work to bridge gap between Plain sect abuse victims and the courts Click here
September 8, 2024 LNP editorial article: Lancaster Amish children must be protected from sexual abuse. All children deserve to be safe from such horrors. Click here
