New York State Professionals Learn about the Plain Community

Over eighty professionals attended Dove’s Nest’s “Amish and Old Order Mennonites & Child Safety” diversity training in Geneva, New York, on May 21, 2019. Dove’s Nest speaker and cofounder Jeanette Harder led the training. The participants’ work is associated with the child advocacy centers in New York, and includes forensic interviewers, prevention educators, victim advocates, and law enforcement. Harder has led other trainings on this topic in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other parts of New York State. 

By Jeanette Harder

The participants at the Amish and Old Order Mennonite child safety training on May 21 were very eager to learn more about the faith and culture of this unique group, especially since their prevalence in New York is skyrocketing. Some participants had stories of positive engagement with Plain communities, although their stories of responding to abuse, accidents, and rambunctious youth were distressing. Participants seemed to especially appreciate learning about the diversity of Plain communities (they’re not all the same!) and had a thousand questions about all areas of their lives and how to engage and intervene best with them. 

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