Safe Environment Program Office at 6363 9th Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL 33710 US - Safe Environment Training for Access to Children and Vulnerable Adults
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Safe Environment Training for Access to Children and Vulnerable Adults |
Anyone who may have the care, responsibility, and or supervision of a child , youth, or vulnerable adult must attend Safe Environment Program Training
In accordance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Diocese of St. Petersburg Policy for the Protection of Children and Young People, adults (21 years of age or older) who wish to have unsupervised access to children and youth must receive Safe Enviornment Program Training and receive a Level 2 Criminal History Background Check.
It is important to note that individuals under the age of 21 cannot have unsupervised access to children or youth - this includes all youth ministers under 21. When minor aged youth act in leadership positions over younger children, SEP-trained and background screened adults must be physically present
Safe Environment Program (SEP) training for those who wish unsupervised access to children and youth must attend a 3-hour SEP training workshop. These workshops teach caring adults: (1) to watch for signs of predatory behavior in adults, (2) to watch for signs of abuse in a child, and (3) to report it to the police (911) or to the Florida Department of Chidren and Family's Abuse Hotline (800- 96ABUSE). These training sessions are presented throughout the diocese in various locations and can be found on the diocesean website (www.dioceseofstpete.org) or by clikcing on the "SEP training workshop" link above.
Persons attending a SEP training session/workshop will be issued a SEP Training Attendance Certificate Safe Environment Program Training which is good for three years. Individuals who wish to keep their certification active must be re-certified by attending another training session. Online SEP training re-certification is under consideration by the diocese.
The Diocese of St. Petersburg uses the Girls and Boys Town Family Center for Adolescent and Family Spirituality child safety program. The Diocese of St. Petersburg does not accept SEP training from any other diocese or archdiocese. Even though the basic child protection information is generic there are other differences that do not address local conditions. These conditions pertain to such things as diocesan policy, local or state law, jargon, notification procedures and telephone numbers, etc.
If previously SEP trained and background screened individuals serve in more than one volunteer or combination volunteer/employee position, or who may be relocating to another parish or school within the diocese wish to transfer their training and background screening infomation, please contact the diocesan Safe Environment Program Office at 727-344-1611, Ext. 377 to facilitate the transfer process.
Church Personnel who provide services and support to vulnerable adults are subject to the Diocese of St. Petersburg Policy for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults. A Vulnerable Adult is a person 18 years or older whose ability to perform the normal activities of daily living or to provide for his or her own care or protection is impaired due to a mental, emotional, physical, developmental disability dysfunction, brain damage, or the infirmities of aging.
The term Church personnel includes:
2. Employees: Any lay individual who is employed by or engaged in ministry who is given payment for services (any form of compensation, whether monetary or otherwise) rendered in which the obligation to withhold for payroll tax (FICS, Medicare, and withholding) exists, whether part-time or full-time. This definition shall include all such persons whether employed by the diocese, parish, school, early childhood center, nursing home, group home, or other Diocesan entity that is controlled by or operated by the bishop. “Personnel” as defined herein, has reference only to the applicability of this policy, and is not indicative of any agency or employment relationship between the diocese and the party whose compliance with this policy is sought.
3. Covered Volunteer: Any unpaid person who is engaged or involved in any diocesan institution or parish activity, and who is entrusted with the care, responsibility, or supervision of children or vulnerable adults.
