Sixteen Things Employees and Volunteers Can Do

to Help Create and Maintain

Safe Environments at Church and at School

Employees and volunteers who engage in ministries on behalf of the Church want to teach and guide children and young people as safely and effectively as possible. It does not matter if those in ministry are employees or volunteers, the obligations for providing safe environments are the same. What can we do to assure a safe environment in Catholic churches, schools, and institutions? We can follow the following guidelines.

1. Fulfill the tasks confided to us in a manner that is respectful toward others. The pastoral relationship is one that should never be exploited by any minister, employee or volunteer for his or her own benefit. The people we serve have the right to expect that no one will be physically, sexually, or emotionally abused, neglected, or exploited, by Church related personnel.

2. Be familiar with the Pastoral Code of Conduct of the Diocese of Norwich and abide by its provisions.

3. Listen attentively to concerns raised in regard to the Pastoral Code of Conduct or compliance with the Code and properly address any lack of compliance.

4. Follow the goal of all volunteers, official ministers, employees, and contractors to:

· create and maintain safe environments for minors and adults;

· ensure that no minor is alone with an adult and no adult is alone with a minor except in emergency situations or during the Sacrament of penance;

· strive not to place oneself in a vulnerable or unsafe position.

In efforts toward achieving this goal, adhere to the following principles:

A. Two adults should normally be present when working with children or teenagers.

B. At least one of the two adults working with children and/or teenagers must have read and agreed to abide by this Pastoral Code of Conduct, be aware of and know how to create and/or maintain a safe environment for children and adults, and have undergone comprehensive screening.

C. When more than two adults are required by the nature of an activity (e.g., dance, field trip, overnight school trip, etc.), adults should be paired so that one adult always has the requisite commitment, training, and screening.

D. When the presence of two adults is not possible, such as medical emergencies, urgent or emergency situations, sacramental confession, or counseling and spiritual direction, other safe environment measures should be utilized, such as remaining visible to another adult or assuring that the adult involved has the requisite commitment, training and screening.

E. Adult leaders should know the location of the young people confided to their care immediately before, during, and after any Church-sponsored activity.

F. When transporting children and/or teenagers, drivers need to undergo a motor vehicle record check as part of their comprehensive screening. In light of this, it is strongly recommended that professional bus companies be used for transporting minors whenever possible.

In certain instances, exceptions to the above principles may be granted by the Office for Safe Environments after an application for an exception is placed with this office. In order for exceptions to be granted, proof must be provided that safe environments have been created and are being maintained, that personnel involved have the requisite training or its equivalent and are committed to maintaining safe environments, and that screening meets or exceeds standards outlined in the diocesan comprehensive screening policy.

5. Signed parental consent forms are a necessity when transporting young people as part of a Church group. Similarly, each minor must have a consent form/permission slip signed by his or her parent or guardian to participate in a youth activity.

6. Any travel with an unrelated child (or children) by authorized Church-related personnel may only occur when it is part of a Church-sponsored, chaperoned activity, with the express written permission of the young person’s parents, and when there is a second authorized adult in the same vehicle.

7. Minors ministering to or working with other minors must be supervised by at least one adult who has the requisite commitment, training, and screening. It is strongly recommended that two adults be present during such activities and/or ministries.

8. Touching must be appropriate and initiated by the person being ministered to. In certain very visible situations, age‑appropriate touching may be initiated by the minister, such as shaking hands before and after Mass.

9. Ministers, employees, and volunteers must refrain from giving, or receiving, expensive gifts to, or from, young people without express parental consent.

10. Under no circumstances may an unrelated young person stay overnight in a rectory.

11. The use of illegal drugs by Church related personnel is strictly prohibited. Church ministers, employees, or volunteers who provide, share, or offer illegal drugs, controlled substances, or alcohol, to young people will be terminated and removed from office or ministry and must be reported to the proper civil and church authorities.

12. Boundaries between personal/living space and public space must be clear and maintained at all times. As a rule, personal living space in rectories is not to be used for parish/school ministries or functions.

13. Proper behavioral expectations of minors under age eighteen must be communicated to them prior to the start of the activity.

14. Private conversations with young people should be considered confidential except insofar as may be necessary to fulfill diocesan and state mandated reporting requirements and/or to protect or save someone's life.

15. Discipline in Catholic parishes, schools and institutions should respect the dignity of each child. It is not acceptable to strike, spank, shake or slap a child. When it is necessary to discipline a child, such discipline should be thoughtful, measured and restrained.

16. Strive to live lives of truth, holiness, and virtue, treating all human beings as human persons and not as objects for gratification, power, or advancement.