The first and most effective way of supporting the CPO is by making a donation. Every bit helps our mission of protecting children. Becoming a monthly or annual Sustaining Supporter enables us to rely on your contribution in our budget.

Since 1998, the Child Protection Office has carried out essential services that deeply affect families, children and communities that constitute our society. The reputation and functionality of any organization is profoundly affected by the issues this office addresses. The faith of community members around the world and across generations is directly impacted by the ability of the Child Protection Office to function well. Historically, the CPO has been understaffed and underfunded. With adequate funding, the CPO can retain qualified, committed individuals to carry out the numerous services that prevent and stop child abuse from happening.

The second most effective way to help is getting informed yourself. Education is essential to stopping abuse. The more community members 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, stronger community, and deeper spiritual progress.

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.

Often, a child’s only hope for help is when a report is made on his/her behalf by a concerned adult. If you suspect that a child has been abused, Report.

1-800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453) is the ChildHelp hotline to report concerns of child maltreatment across the US and Canada. Hotline counselors are available to receive calls 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. They have translators in more than 100 languages.

Know that a report is simply a request for an investigation by trained professionals. It is not necessarily an accusation, nor a finding of guilt. Your identity will be kept confidential. You may also report anonymously.

If it is an emergency, abuse is happening in real time – call 911.

You can also report a concern to your local 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 their organization can help them take that step toward justice, healing, accountability.

That’s ok. You are not meant to be a detective, judge or jury. Your job as a responsible adult is to report to someone who is trained and positioned to handle these kinds of concerns. Just report what you know to the designated authorities. Local Child Protection Volunteers and the CPO can help you take this step.

No. Reporting abuse can help in a number of ways. Reporting can be empowering for the victim. It can help protect others. It can lead to accountability for the perpetrator. Civil authorities may or may not be able to do something. Next steps for them will be determined by considerations like jurisdiction and statute of limitations. You can always make a report within your community. There is no statute of limitations with the CPO.

No. All reports are kept anonymous. 

We do, until they don’t. When civil authorities get involved after a concern of child abuse has been reported, they have the leverage to require things like anger management training or even removing an abusive person from a child’s life. They can also provide resources to support the family structure. Unfortunately, a very small percentage of cases make it through the court system, less than 10% actually. From statute of limitations and jurisdictional constraints, to the standards of evidence required and legal technicalities, it can be a very disappointing process to only rely on civil authorities. 



The right of a religious or private organization to determine the relationship of its members allows groups to make decisions for themselves. The process of internal investigations regarding standards of behavior enables groups to do more than would otherwise be achieved relyng soley on civil authorities.

Since most incidents are outside the jurisdiction of law enforcement, past the statute of limitations, do not meet their definition of abuse, or lack evidence, utilizing the criminal justice system often leads to no accountability for the offender or sense of justice for the victim. Having an internal process of investigation and conclusion can facilitate such concerns.

Yes. It is secular law to report to civil authorities. When the victim is still a minor, it is every adult’s responsibility to report it. It is also policy for all reputable organizations. 

Reporting concerns of abuse to the proper authorities is the safe and responsible thing to do for all involved. 

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, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

Increase your understanding of the multifaceted issue of child abuse, from identification and reporting to impact and long-term effects. You make a difference in the prevention of and response to child abuse. Your knowledge and action effects  the lives of others.

Share your concern with others. Talk about what you learn. 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 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 tend to be
• Check that management is implementing a background screening process for those in positions of trust and authority
• Find out if children are receiving personal safety training annually
• Be a safe adult for children to report to 
• Request that at least once a year their is a community wide class on the topic of child protection.

Child protection is a fundemental part of Vaisnava culture. Protecting children is Krishna-conscious.  

Child Protection Volunteers (CPV) are individuals part of the local community that help implement child abuse prevention and response services locally. They serve in an advisory capacity to the local management.

The Child Protection Office (CPO) functions regionally or internationally to serve similar purposes on a greater scale.

You may here the name CPO used for several different offices. Some are independant like this one. Others are part of an organization such as the ISKCON North America Child Protection Office which is run by ISKCON management.  

The Child Protection Office (CPO) is an independant non-profit offering a neutral space to get resources and support regarding child abuse and prevention. 

Integrity is our guiding principle. 

The Child Protection Office relies on donations from individuals like yourself. As funding is increased, we are able to increase the staff to provide essential services for child abuse prevention and response. 

Qualified, committed staff to provide the services that devotees count on this office for.

Currently the CPO has one staff member to juggle all aspects of child protection services and office management. Volunteers help as they are available which is hugely valuable and has gotten us to where we are today. For consistently reliable services to reach more families and communities, additional staff is needed. 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.

These roles include an Office Manager, an Education Coordinator, and Victim Support Services. Our goal is to hire department heads in each of these areas. Together we can do so much more. Together we can raise the bar to help Srila Prabhupada’s movement become exemplerary as he intended; to offer a loving, safe community where children can grow in Krishna consciousness.

Government grants are available to organizations that provide services to a general population, e.g. a county or state. The CPO primarily serves Vaisanava communities therefore has not qualified for public grants. Anyone interested in providing a private grant can. 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. 

There is one full time and one part time staff member for North America. Volunteers also contribute various services to the functioning of this office.

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.