Children’s Cove Urges Youth-Serving Organizations to Review Safety Protocols Following Statewide Clergy Abuse Report
Published on: October 6, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Information from: Children’s Cove, the Cape & Islands Child Advocacy Center
Cape & Islands Child Advocacy Center Calls for Internal Audits, Education, and Expanded Survivor Support
BARNSTABLE, Mass. (Oct. 6, 2026) — In the wake of findings detailing institutional failures in handling clergy abuse across Massachusetts dioceses, Barnstable County Children’s Cove, the Cape & Islands Child Advocacy Center, is calling on local youth-serving organizations to review their child safety policies and contact them for guidance on bringing protocols into current best-practice and effectively handling reports of abuse.
Youth-serving organizations and institutions carry a strict legal and moral duty to report suspected abuse to authorities immediately, cooperate fully with independent investigations, and enforce clear child-protection policies backed by consistent oversight. Genuine accountability requires that institutions prioritize child protection above organizational reputation and guarantees that survivors receive trauma-informed care tailored to their healing.
Children’s Cove and its statewide partner, the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance, stand with survivors of clergy sexual abuse, their families, and affected communities throughout the Commonwealth, including the Dioceses of Fall River, Springfield, and Worcester. While the public release of these findings provides vital validation, it also reopens deep wounds. Survivors deserve compassion, autonomy, and unfettered access to support—whether they choose to share their experiences or keep them private.
“Across our network of Children’s Advocacy Centers and multidisciplinary partners, we continue to advance how communities recognize abuse, respond to disclosures, and connect children with care,” said Thomas King, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Children’s Alliance. “Protecting children requires institutions to strictly enforce their protection policies and policymakers to sustain the community-based services that children and families depend on.”
“At Children’s Cove, our mission is to provide a compassionate, coordinated, and trauma-informed response to children impacted by abuse,” said Stacy Gallagher, Director of Children’s Cove. “We are here for every community member to ensure they are heard in a safe, supportive environment. We also stand ready to assist any youth-serving organization seeking to review its safety protocols and embed child safety as a non-negotiable core value.”
Children’s safety must always take precedence over institutional self-preservation. When organizations fail to systematically update and test their protection policies, vulnerabilities persist and children remain at risk.
There are clear steps to report suspected abuse. If you suspect a child is being abused, you should call the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). During business hours, contact the DCF area office serving the child’s city or town of residence. At night, on weekends, and on holidays, call (800) 792‑5200. Mandated reporters must call immediately and submit a written 51A report within 48 hours. Contacting a Children’s Advocacy Center does not replace required reporting to DCF.
Organizations seeking child abuse prevention training, policy review, or consultation at no cost can contact Children’s Cove at 508.375.0410 or visit www.childrenscove.org.
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ABOUT CHILDREN’S COVE
Children’s Cove, a department of Barnstable County, has served as the Cape and the Islands Child Advocacy Center since 1997. Children’s Cove provides coordinated and comprehensive multidisciplinary services to child victims of sexual abuse, physical abuse, witness to domestic violence, and child sexual exploitation and trafficking. To learn more, visit www.childrenscove.org
ABOUT BARNSTABLE COUNTY REGIONAL GOVERNMENT OF CAPE COD
Barnstable County provides exemplary government functions and services to keep our community healthy and safe, promote sustainable growth, and offer a proactive, open government that enhances the quality of life for the citizens of Barnstable County. Learn more at www.capecod.gov
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