Archdiocesan Safe Environment Program Archdiocese policy requires that employees and all volunteers who work in any of our parish or school programs serving children under the age of 17 be in compliance with the following requirement before beginning their employment or service to the parish.  If these requirements are not fulfilled, no employee or volunteer will be allowed TO BEGIN or TO CONTINUE WORKING IN ANY PROGRAM OF OUR PARISH OR SCHOOL THAT SERVES CHILDREN under the age of 17. The Safe Environment Program requires that we have written documentation that would certify that all employees and volunteers working with children have: 1.         Attended the “Protecting God’s Children” program designed to heighten our knowledge and   awareness of child abuse in our culture and Church as well as to inform everyone about appropriate behaviors, including how to respond to complaints of abuse.     (This program is completely different from any kind of coaching clinic or training program.  It’s focus is exclusively on the issue of child abuse.) 2.         COMPLETED a Criminal Background Check Form from the State of Missouri. 3.         SIGNED the Code of Ethical Conduct Form after having read what this code expects of all employees and volunteers. Anyone who has regular contact with minor children in the programs of our parish or school must complete these requirements.  REGULAR CONTACT means that you are in a position in which there— ·          would be a likelihood that you would be working with or near minors three or more times a year, ·          would be participating in an overnight program with minors, or ·          would be on a list of persons eligible to be working with minors, even if it is not known whether or how often this would actually occur. The following links may be helpful for those employees and volunteers who are required to fulfill the expectations of the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Program.  If you would like any further information concerning this program or if you have any particular questions concerning this program, please contact your immediate supervisor or the the parish that is responsible for your employment or the program within which you are serving as a volunteer Web Site for Archdiocesan Protecting God's Children Program: Information and Resources http://archstl.org/children The Archdiocese of St. Louis has initiated a new sexual-abuse prevention program. Entitled "Protecting God’s Children," the program is being provided at no cost to parishes, schools, and archdiocesan agencies. Protecting God's Children Program: Workshop Schedule http://www.archstl.org/children/children.html The Archdiocese of St. Louis has initiated a new sexual-abuse prevention program. Entitled "Protecting God’s Children," the program is being provided at no cost to parishes, schools, and archdiocesan agencies. All employees and volunteers who work with children on a regular basis are mandated to attend a presentation of the program. Priests in the archdiocese will be participating in the program at upcoming deanery meetings, and pastors have been encouraged to be present at the sessions that will be offered in their parishes. Code of Ethical Conduct for Clergy, Employees, and Volunteers Working with Minors http://www.archstl.org/children/code-of-ethical-conduct.pdf All employees and volunteers who work with children on a regular basis are mandated to receive and read this code of ethical conduct.  After having done so every employee and volunteer is to sign the Commitment to Ethical Conduct form and return this form to the his or her immediate supervisor or the the parish that is responsible for his or her employment or the the program within which he or she is serving as a volunteer. Archdiocesan Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines on Child Abuse http://www.archstl.org/children/manual_2.pdf These Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines were developed to give guidance no the subject of child abuse to employees, volunteers, religious, priests, and deacons in the Archdiocese and to address the needs of victims of child abuse.  The primary goal of these Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines is to prevent child abuse and the primary method of prevention is education.  In addition to education, care in the hiring and evaluation of employees and volunteers is an important element in the prevention of child abuse.  Since the possibility of child abuse has to be recognized, these Policies, Procedures, and Guidelines also cover the investigation and reporting of incidents of child abuse and assistance to those affected by instances of abuse. Support Group for Victims and Survivors of Sexual Abuse JMARKS@ccstl.org A support group is offered to any victim/survivor of sexual abuse. Please contact Jerry Marks, DSW, Executive Director of Catholic Family Services, at (314) 544-3800.