Office of Safe Environment
The Diocese of La Crosse is committed to helping victims and survivors
of sexual abuse and dedicated to protecting our children.
Mrs. Teresa Brown
Complaint Intake Agent – 608.791.0179
Mr. Christian Kuehner
Facilitator of Safe Environment – 608.791.2673
Deacon Tom Skemp
Victim Assistance Coordinator – 608.792.9684
July 14, 2026
SAFE ENVIORNMENT MESSAGE BOARD
Happy new fiscal year! New SE training for 2026-2027 is now active! Access the new training through this button on the 2026-27 Training Page! The QR code scans to complete the training via mobile phone.
Estimated time of completion is 20-30 minutes!
2026-2027 Safe Environment Training Permalink: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/se-training26-27
Online training has been updated. We are off to a good start. As of 7-13-26, more than 240 people have completed online training. If you printed materials off for training in the past, destroy them and begin using the current version. The slides now have a red and blue background. Training completed in June of 2026 will NOT be accepted for 2026-27 training. If you would like to have in-person training or a Zoom training, please contact either Christian or Teresa.
Scheduled in-person Training for 2026-2027:
August 5, 6:00 pm at Immaculate Conception in Eau Claire
August 11, 5:30 pm St. Patrick Parish and School in Sparta
August 12, 6:00 pm Immaculate Conception in Alma Center
August 13, 10:00 am and 6:00 pm Independence
August 17, in the am at Menomonie School and Parish
August 17, 3:00 pm St. Olaf in Eau Claire
August 18 9:00 St. Paul – Bloomer
August 18 1:00 pm and 5:30 pm at Chippewa Falls McDonell
August 19 9:30 am, Noon and 6:00 pm at Wausau Newman
August 20 10:00 am Prairie Catholic School – Prairie du Chien
August 25 1:00 [pm at Thorp School and Parish
August 25 evening tbd at St. Joseph School in Boyd
August 26 2:00 pm and 6:00 pm St. Mary – Colby
August 27 10:30 – 5:15 pm at St. Charles – Genoa
REQUIRED SIGNAGE & LITERATURE FOR SCHOOL/PARISH BULLETIN BOARDS
Protect & Heal Brochure
Updated signage for Protect & Heal resources in the area, including address from Bishop Battersby.
Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People
Commonly referred to as the “Blue Book.” For hard copies of the charter please contact Teresa Brown or Christian Kuehner.
Protect & Heal Poster
Poster including phone numbers for Intake Agent, Teresa Brown & Victim Assistance Coordinator, Deacon Tom Skemp.
INTRODUCING AWAKE - RESOURCES FOR CONCERNED CATHOLICS
2025-26 ANNUAL REPORTS
** SAFE ENVIRONMENT COORDINATORS **
PLEASE COMPLETE AND RETURN BY MARCH 1, 2026
- Parish Annual Training Report
- School Annual Training Report
- Student and Parent Annual Training Report
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) requires all dioceses in the United States to undergo yearly audits to verify their compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. These audits are performed by StoneBridge Business Partners, which has been doing Charter audits for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops since 2011.
To view the July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2021 USCCB Compliance Notification for the Diocese of La Crosse, click this link.
To view the July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024 USCCB Compliance Notification for the Diocese of La Crosse, click this link.
To view the July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2027 USCCB Compliance Notification for the Diocese of La Crosse, click this link.
StoneBridge also issues the annual report, which includes statistical data gathered by the Georgetown University-based Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA). To view the 2021 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, click this link.
Letters of Suitability
All priests and deacons from outside the Diocese of La Crosse requesting to participate in any ministerial activity are to have a Letter of Suitability provided to the Office for the Vicar for Clergy prior to the date of the activity. The Letter of Suitability can be emailed to Teresa Brown at tbrown@diolc.org or sent via US Mail to:
Diocese of La Crosse
Attn: Vicar for Clergy Very Rev. Samuel Martin
Attn: Vicar General Very Rev. Alan Guanella
PO Box 4004
La Crosse, WI 54602-4004