Safeguard the Children

safeEvery parish of the Archdiocese is required to have an active Safeguard the Children Parish Committee. Our Safeguard the Children Committee plays a crucial role in assuring that the safeguard initiatives found in the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People are a priority in our parish and that the Archdiocesan safe environment programs, policies and procedures are being implemented.

Committee Responsibilities

The committee assures that:

• All adults who work with or around children attend the VIRTUS® Protecting God’s Children program and receive the required certification.

• All children and young people receive Safe Environment Training either through “Teaching Touching Safety” or “Good-Touch/Bad-Touch” each year.

• All clergy, paid parish and school staff, and volunteers who work regularly in a supervisory role with children or youth are fingerprinted.

• All parish records pertaining are accurate and up to date.

• Required reports are submitted to the Archdiocese Office of Safeguard the Children in a timely manner.

• The parish community is kept informed through bulletin articles and other media about issues pertaining to the protection of children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

• Parish buildings, grounds, and facilities are regularly evaluated with respect to the safety and security of children and young people.