Allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior, misogyny, bullying, and toxic masculinity surfaced between 2008-2017. One particular allegation was investigated internally and resulted in the separation of a Youth Ministries staff in 2017. Due to additional concerns from the Cameron House community, three Community Forum / Healing Circle meetings were held during 2021-2022. Attendees included primary and secondary survivors, as well as concerned members of the Cameron House community.
At the Community Forum in June 2021, attendees made over 100 recommendations to improve accountability, transparency, and ongoing program and participant safety. A working group composed of Youth Development Leaders, Youth Ministries Staff, Healing Committee participant, licensed psychotherapist, and Executive Director prioritized these ideas into an action plan.
Oversight Committee
In October 2021, the Board of Directors established an Oversight Committee to ensure accountability and transparency of the action plan developed by the working group. View plan.
However, as Cameron House has painfully discovered, addressing these issues is not merely about putting policies in place or educating through training. We will also be reviewing our programs to create a new culture that is intolerant of disrespectful words, behaviors and actions; we understand that accountability is required at every level of our organization. We will also be examining how we recruit, train, set boundaries and expectations, and monitor and evaluate performance.
Letter of Apology
In March 2023, a formal Letter of Apology was sent to known survivors and the Cameron House Community. It apologized for the failure to address concerns, failure to protect the survivors’ safety and the failure to create a respectful and safe environment. View Letter of Apology.
Survivor Support
Cameron House hired Dr. Carolee Tran, a licensed psychologist with over 25 years of experience in trauma and abuse. Dr. Tran, a 3rd party independent practitioner with no previous ties to Cameron House, met with several primary survivors and submitted a report which includes quotes of their experiences and many recommendations including individual and group therapy. View report.
Cameron House is committed to implementing Dr. Tran’s recommendations.
Internal Investigation
To better understand where Cameron House failed in addressing past allegations, Keith Black, founder and Principal at Employment Practices Outsourcing, a national consultancy focused on conducting workplace investigations, was hired. He assessed how Cameron House’s senior management team responded to the allegations in 2017, whether information was properly escalated to them, and whether appropriate action was taken if they did in fact have knowledge of the various allegations.
Mr. Black interviewed past and present members of the senior management team, key staff and board of directors. Primary survivors were not interviewed as the review focused on the initial investigation’s processes. View report.
Cameron House is committed to implementing Mr. Black’s recommendations.