The first and most effective way of supporting the CPO is by making a donation. Anything helps our mission of protecting the children of ISKCON, but a monthly Sustaining Supporter allows us to include your donation in our budget.

Over the last 25 years, the Child Protection Office has carried out essential services that deeply affect the families, children and communities that constitute ISKCON. The reputation and functionality of ISKCON is profoundly affected by the issues this office is meant to handle. The faith of devotees around the world and across generations is directly impacted by the ability of the CPO to function as intended. Historically, the CPO has been understaffed and underfunded. With adequate funding, the CPO can retain qualified, committed individuals to carry out the numerous duties prescribed to this office.

The second most effective way to help the CPO is to get informed. Education is essential to stopping abuse. The more devotees that are knowledgeable in the recognition of child abuse/neglect, the safer the society is and the more deterrence of abuse is built into the collective consciousness. Education leads to cultural shifts that directly decrease abuse and foster healthier relationships.

Unless someone has been found guilty of child abuse in a court of law, we are legally constricted just as law enforcement is for those who have had reports but not convictions. One way that we can work around that constriction is for temples, centers and projects to contact the CPO with a clearance request on persons serving in positions of trust or authority. We have the right to say who can and cannot serve in, visit, or otherwise be affiliated with our organization.The CPO is regularly adding information from reports and investigations to the database used for providing clearances.

If it is an emergency – call 911.

You can also report to your local ISKCON Child Protection Volunteers who are there to help you figure out what to do. The Child Protection Office is another option – 352-575-0780, call or text.

If the person who experienced child abuse is currently an adult, supporting them and letting them know that they can report to civil authorities and/or within ISKCON can help them take the next step in healing.

The right of a religious organization to determine the relationship of its members allows us to make decisions on the relationship of someone with ISKCON and ISKCON’s standards of behavior. The process of internal investigations and determinations enables us to do more than we would otherwise achieve if just relied on civil authorities.

Since most incidents reported to the CPO are outside of the jurisdiction of law enforcement, past the statute of limitations, or do not meet their definition of abuse, utilizing that system often leads to no accountability for the offender or sense of justice for the victim. Having this ecclesiastic process allows us to pursue an investigation as a society. and conclusion as it pertains to ISKCON.

Yes, it is ISKCON’s policy to report concerns of child abuse to civil authorities. When the victim is still a minor, it is every adult’s responsibility to report it. When the victim has reached adulthood prior to the point of disclosure, unless local laws dictate otherwise, it is the victim’s choice whether to report to civil authorities or not. If you have a concern that a child has been abused contact your local Social Services or call 1-800-4-A-CHILD nationwide in the U.S. and Canada.

Ask the management of your center who the Child Protection Volunteers are. Ideally, there should be signage posted publicly with their names and contact information. If there are none, ask the management to set up this vital service for your community. 

Nelson Mandela famously said that “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Increase your understanding of the multifaceted issue of child abuse—prevention, impact, and long-term effects. Share your concern and understanding with others. Arrange for guest speakers on related topics—Domestic Violence, Emotional abuse, Internet safety, what it means to be an active bystander, and how we can be a trauma-informed community.  There is so much to learn and understand about what curbs abuse and creates a safer environment for children. 

Another way that you can help prevent child abuse is to:

• physically create a safe space by organizing to ensure children are supervised
• make sure the physical environment lends to transparency in spaces where children are
• make sure the management implements a background check process for those in positions of trust and authority
• find out if children are receiving personal safety training
• be a safe adult for children to report to and
• ask that at least once a year the temple class is on the topic of child protection.

This is part of Vaisnava culture, child protection is Krishna-conscious. Protecting our children is a crucial part of Vaisnava culture. 

Child Protection Volunteers are local devotees that help implement child abuse prevention and response services for a local center. They serve in an advisory capacity to the local management. The CPO (Child Protection Office) functions either regionally or internationally to serve similar functions on a greater scale.

One notable difference is that when the CPO makes a decision to restrict someone’s relationship with ISKCON, that decision is binding for ISKCON globally. Such decisions are made when abuse happens on ISKCON property or by someone who serves as clergy or personnel. Conversely, when abuse happens off of ISKCON property and by someone who does not serve in such a position, the Child Protection Volunteers make a decision on that person’s relationship with their local center.  

The CPO for North America answers to the International CPO, the NACPO Board of Directors, and the Regional Governing Body, as well as the devotees we serve. Child Protection Volunteers answer to the CPO, the Temple Preseident, and the GBC.

The Child Protection Office for North America receives funding from the Convention of Temples, a collection contributed to by temples and centers across the US and Canada. Annually they provide $32,000. Donations from individuals make up the rest of the budget that we have to work with. As we increase the funding we are able to increase the staff to provide essential services for child abuse prevention and response. Child Protection Volunteers are not funded. They function as local volunteers at each center.

Qualified, committed staff to provide the services that devotees count on this office for. Currently, the North America CPO (NACPO) has one staff member to juggle all aspects of child protection services. Volunteers help as they are available which is valuable and has gotten us to where we are today but the devotees need reliable, consistent staff to meet their needs. Funding will enable us to hire trained personnel who are committed to preventing abuse, who are here to help when a concern happens, and who keep you informed and connected to the work we are doing.

The NACPO needs full-time, qualified, committed staff to provide the services that this office is meant to offer – Prevention, Compliance, Response, Admin, Victim Support, and Communications. Our goal this year is to find funding for department heads in each of these areas. Together we can do so much more. Together we can raise the bar and become the exemplary society that Srila Prabhupada intended to offer a loving, safe community where children can grow in Krishna consciousness.

Most grants are available to organizations that provide services to a general population, e.g. a county or state. The CPO specifically serves ISKCON communities therefore has not qualified for most grants. Anyone interested in providing a private grant, the CPO is a 501(c)3 non-profit.     

This is a question commonly asked that is better answered by the GBC themselves. In North America, all ISKCON centers contribute to the funding of the Child Protection Office for the U.S. and Canada. 

One full-time staff member in North America. Certain tasks are covered by volunteers.

CPO decisions are implemented by ISKCON management. The decisions generally have two parts – requirements and restrictions. Requirements are overseen by the CPO. They are things like the person being required to get a psychological evaluation, receiving therapy, paying restitution, etc.

The CPO works directly with the individual to ensure these requirements are met. ISKCON management is in a position to ensure that restrictions are upheld. For example, the person must not stay overnight on an ISKCON-affiliated property, they cannot lead kirtan or give class, they cannot have service involving minors, etc. The CPO and Management are meant to work together to ensure that decisions are upheld in all respects.