FILE - Paralympic gold medalist April Holmes answers questions at the Jordan Brand’s Flight Experience, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 in Houston. (Omar Vega/Invision for Jordan Brand/AP Images, File)
As part of reforms, SafeSport seeks to improve communication on potential for long cases
DENVER (AP) 鈥 The U.S. Center for SafeSport will explain to people involved in abuse investigations about the potential for the 鈥渓ong duration鈥 of cases as part of reforms designed to improve communication about what some complain is a confusing, drawn-out process.
FILE - Paralympic gold medalist April Holmes answers questions at the Jordan Brand’s Flight Experience, Friday, Feb. 15, 2013 in Houston. (Omar Vega/Invision for Jordan Brand/AP Images, File)
DENVER (AP) 鈥 The U.S. Center for SafeSport will explain to people involved in abuse investigations about the potential for the 鈥渓ong duration鈥 of cases as part of reforms designed to improve communication about what some complain is a confusing, drawn-out process.
The center’s interim CEO, April Holmes, sent a letter Wednesday to athletes, sports organizations and others involved in the SafeSport process outlining changes stemming from a series of efforts earlier this year.
Among the nine changes the center announced:
鈥 鈥淏etter explain(ing) what happens when the Center declines a case.鈥
鈥 Improving resources and adding language to help people better understand third-party reporting, anonymous reporting and due process.
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鈥 “Adding educational content on misusing the center’s process.”
鈥 “Incorporating language in communications about the potential long duration of cases.鈥
The center’s outreach efforts began shortly after Holmes took over for Ju’Riese Colon, came after a series of Associated Press stories about an investigator hired and later fired by the center triggered
Established in 2017 to sort through sex-abuse cases in Olympic sports, the center has struggled to efficiently resolve cases 鈥 a problem it says is rooted in the more than 8,000 reports it receives in a year and staffing issues that have plagued the organization since its founding.
In her letter, Holmes said the center heard concerns about areas that were flagged 鈥渁s requiring more attention, transparency and/or education.鈥
Another takeaway, Holmes wrote: 鈥淭he Center is important and necessary. Improvements are being noticed, but challenges remain.鈥
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