Safe Environment Program Office at 6363 9th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 US - Summary of the Policy for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults

SUMMARY OF DIOCESAN POLICY

FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

            The Diocese of St. Petersburg remains committed to the well-being of those served by the Church, especially children, youth, and vulnerable adults[1] and to providing them with a safe environment in which to grow and prosper.

            Criminal history background screening[2] - all parishes and schools are required to comply with revised Level 2[3] criminal history background screening for fingerprinting Church Personnel[4] to include new hires and the re-screening of existing employees through the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Volunteer and Employee Criminal History System (VECHS).  The diocese revised its criminal history background screening policy in 2006 and now requires the screening of all employees and those Church Personnel entrusted with the care, responsibility, and or supervision of children and vulnerable through the VECHS criminal history database.

            Minimum Standards of Moral Conduct[5] – Church Personnel who wish to serve in any position of service in the Diocese of St. Petersburg must meet minimum standards of moral conduct, which are now a prerequisite to service in the Church.  A review process is available to Church Personnel who wish to appeal a determination of not meeting a minimum standard of moral conduct finding.  Additionally, compliance with criminal history background screening and Safe Environment Program Training are required prior to access to children, youth, or vulnerable adults. 

            Obligation to report abuse - the diocese remains committed in its policies requiring all Church Personnel who know, or have reasonable cause to suspect, that a child or vulnerable adult has been a victim of abuse, especially sexual abuse, shall immediately make any report required by law to the Department of Children and Families or the police (911).  The toll-free number to report to DCF is 1-800-96-ABUSE.

            Safe Environment Program Training – In addition to successfully completing a criminal history background check, Church Personnel who wish access to children, youth, and or vulnerable adults must complete an appropriate Safe Environment Program Training Session.  Church Personnel that include Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound and Pastoral Care Providers must attend a Safe Environment Program Training session designed especially for those ministers to the homebound and pastoral care providers.  (See subparagraph 4, Safe Environment Program Training Session Types, below.)

            Pastoral commitment - the diocese remains committed to its policy that whenever any Church Personnel is determined to have committed a single act of sexual abuse involving a minor - past or present - the offending person will be permanently removed from ministry or employment.

            2006 changes to policy - the Diocese of St. Petersburg has further strengthened its existing policies and procedures for the protection of children and vulnerable adults in the following areas:

1.      Safe Environment Program (SEP) Office - The diocese established the Safe Environment Program                                     Office within the Office of Human Resources.  This office is responsible for the oversight, operation, maintenance, and compliance with the requirements of the Diocesan Safe Environment Program to include all criminal history background screening and safe environment program training.  

2.      Background Screening Protocol - the diocese has strengthened its criminal history background screening to include a fingerprint check against the FBI’s National Criminal Information Center (NCIC) computer database through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement’s (FDLE) Volunteer and Employee Criminal History System (VEHCS).  The NCIC lists all arrests for felonies and misdemeanors committed anywhere in the US and its territories to include sex offender arrests.  This new protocol also requires a:

·         Re-screening of all Church Personnel every 5 years instead of every 7 years

·         Re-screening of Church Personnel who transfer from one diocesan entity to another.

3.      Minimum Standards of Conduct – the diocese now requires minimum standards of moral conduct for those seeking positions of service within the Church. An appeal process is available upon request.

4.      Safe Environment Program Training Session Types –  the diocese has expanded its offering of training sessions of varying participant duration designed to provide a safe environment for our children, youth, and vulnerable adults as follows:

·         Safe Environment Program– Employees, Volunteers, and Other Church Personnel (3 hrs)

·         Safe Environment Program– Educators and School Employees – In-Service (3 hrs of 2 days)

·         *Safe Environment Program– Eucharistic Ministers to the Homebound and Pastoral Care Providers (2 hrs)

·         Safe Environment Program– Priests and Deacons (3 hrs)

·         *Safe Environment Program – Children and Youth (Catholic School System) (School Year)

·         *Safe Environment Program – Children and Youth (Religious Ed) (Modified School Year)

·         *Safe Environment Program – Parents (1hr)

(*These sessions do not authorize an individual access to children and youth or for their care, responsibility, and or supervision)

5.      Safe Environment Program Procedures and Guidelines – the diocese has placed its procedures and guidelines in two documents for the management of the Diocesan Safe Environment Program.  The are:

·         The Safe Environment Program Procedures and Guidelines Manual

·         The Diocese of St. Petersburg Review Board Procedures and Guidelines Manual

The complete text of the Policy of the Diocese of St. Petersburg for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults can be read on the diocesan website:  www.dioceseofstpete.org.