Safe Environment Training


Overview:

In 2002, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) created a document that would guide the efforts of the Church in the United States in creating safe environments. The Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People was promulgated in June 2002 and has since been revised three times. Today, the Catholic Church in the United States has the strongest measures in the world in place for protecting children and young people, including safe environment training for children and adults, background checks and a zero-tolerance policy.

Protecting our children and youth: Safe environment policies and practices in our diocese (English | Español)
Local safe environment coordinators
USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
USCCB Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons (English | Español | Vietnamese)

Who Should Attend?

All members of our clergy, volunteers, staff members and teachers must attend a certified safe environment training program before being around children.

Attendance is required for all parish or school employees, and all adult volunteers who:

  1. Are engaged in jobs, ministries or programs that involve regular contact with children or young people
  2. Have oversight or administrative responsibility for programs or ministries involving children or young people
  3. As required by their parish or school administrator
  4. Any interested parents may also attend

The presentation is intended for mature audiences only - persons under age 18 may attend only in accordance with established policy for Protecting God's Children.

Find and register for an upcoming session

Screening and Forms

Background Check Authorization Form
(English | Español)
This form is used by the parish or school Safe Environment Coordinator to run background checks on volunteers and employees who have lived in the State of Michigan at any point since their 18th birthday. All paid Church personnel (clergy, religious and lay people) are subject to a criminal history background check. Volunteers who are entrusted with contact with children, the elderly, or persons with disabilities are subject to a criminal history background check.

Standards of Ministerial Behavior for working with children and young people:

Employees and Educators (English | Español) |Volunteers (English | Español)