Readable Version - Response To SafeSport Center's Latest Report
Yesterday at 9:00 am EST, Business Wire released an article, “SafeSport Implementing Improvements to Increase Efficiency and Information Sharing.”
Forty minutes later, I posted it on the private Facebook group “SafeSport Support” (65 members, primarily survivors).
One commenter replied, “I think I’m gonna have to read this four or five times because wow…”
Another one stated, “ I read it that many times, and my head is still spinning!”
During the lunch break of the hearing of the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics and Paralympics (CSUSOP) in Washington DC on September 6, I had a chance to explain to SafeSport CEO Ju'Riese Colón that it was hard to understand the SafeSport courses. Suddenly, Colon interrupted my explanation and agreed that these courses should follow the federal Plain Writing Act of 2010.
More explanation in my previous newsletter issue, CSUSOP - Plain Language, dated September 9, 2023.
No surprise: No national media ran any article regarding SafeSport’s latest report, with two exceptions:
Associated Press: “SafeSport Center announces changes designed to address widespread complaints” with five links to expand.
ESPN: “U.S. Center for SafeSport to overhaul handling of abuse cases.” (No link)
This morning, The Sports Examiner published the readable version, “Promised U.S. Center for SafeSport reforms announced.”
SafeSport announces key process changes as promised
The U.S. Center for SafeSport announced a series of organizational and policy changes for better efficiency and performance, as promised during Congressional hearings last month:
“After spending the past eight months conducting a top-to-bottom review of its processes and seeking feedback from athletes and national governing bodies (NGBs) along the way, the Center has launched an initial set of process improvements that impact nearly every aspect of its work.”
SafeSport was a significant focus of the March 1 report of the Commission on the State of the U.S. Olympics and Paralympics and the House and Senate sub-committee hearings, at which SafeSport chief executive Ju’Riese Colon was a central witness.
The changes highlight the concerns made over several years:
● The heretofore-separate Intake and Resolutions, Investigations, and Legal groups were combined into a single Response and Resolution unit for better service, and much-requested trauma-sensitivity training is being developed:
“The Center is dedicating 50% of an employee’s time to implementing a comprehensive training curriculum for its Response and Resolution department, including enhanced trauma-sensitivity training grounded in research and best practices.”
● The much-maligned “administrative closure” process is being modified:
“Center will be redefining and recategorizing Administrative Closures and Holds to provide more clarity and understanding. As a part of this change, the Center will provide to participants in its process and NGBs specific categories that explain the reason for these outcomes, without compromising Claimant confidentiality.”
● Communications will be improved: “The Center is taking steps to ensure consistent communication with those involved in its process by asking Claimants their preferred method and cadence of communication and committing to providing updates as requested. The Center will also contact Respondents every 30 days.”
● A specialized team has been formed to handle interviews involving minors.
● Deeper examination of grassroots sports: “Considering the substantial number of minor athletes competing at non-national level events, the Center began conducting audits to seek accountability deeper into grassroots sports. These audits began in January of 2024 and were announced in 2022.”
During her Senate sub-committee appearance, Colon said, “The Center is requesting legislative change to establish a definition for National Governing Bodies that is inclusive of locally-affiliated organizations, and makes clear that NGBs have oversight over them.” This change could be included in a forthcoming House bill from Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), tentatively titled the “Safer Sports for Athletes Act of 2024.”
SafeSport operates on a budget of about $23 million in 2024; Colon said at last month’s hearings that it requires $30 million a year to handle the current and foreseen caseloads.
Back to the CSUSOP hearing, USA Deaf Sports Federation Jeff Mansfield answered CSUSOP Commissioner Joseph Schmitz’s question about whether SafeSport currently protects athletes who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Yes, but again, as has already been mentioned today, while we report things to SafeSport, it's like sending a complaint into a vacuum, and, in addition to that, at younger levels – or youth-sport levels – deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes, and their families included, are already at a disadvantage. So, to then report – it creates a fear of repercussions or retribution on playing time. So, for those reasons, often deaf and hard-of-hearing athletes will decide to not report abusive or misconduct. And, in fact, we have research and statistics that show that deaf and hard-of-hearing Americans are 25% more likely to experience mental-health issues than those who can hear normally.
A commenter on that Facebook group page wrote, “Hopeful the supposed increase in communication is helpful for future claimants.”