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Safe Environment
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Mission StatementAs Christian adults, we have a moral and legal responsibility and are entrusted by God with the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of minors and vulnerable adults. As we participate in activities within or sponsored by our Diocese, we are responsible and committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for all.
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Purpose
The Safe Environment Program has been adopted to:
- Provide a safe and secure environment for minors and vulnerable adults in our faith community.
- Reduce the possibility of false accusations against clergy, employees, and volunteers.
- Provide a structure for evaluating a person’s suitability to work with minors or vulnerable adults.
- Provide a system to respond to the victim and his/her family as well as the accused.
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Who must be screened?
- All clergy and staff of the Parish and School
- All volunteers, including those who work with MINORS (under 18) or vulnerable adults*.
*Vulnerable Adults are those who, for mental or physical impairment reasons, cannot recognize danger or, if they do, cannot extract themselves from a dangerous situation.
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SPX School ParentsAll families who choose to fulfill their required volunteer hours OR if you plan to accompany your child on field trips, coaching, Fall Carnival, field day, etc., must be screened and cleared through the safe environment program.
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Requirements for Screening & ClearanceINITIAL & ANNUAL TRAINING: Documented attendance at one Safe Environment Program training session offered every 4-6 weeks here at St. Pius and various other times at other diocesan locations. Please review the church bulletin, website, and school newsletters for specific dates and times. We will schedule additional sessions in August to accommodate new parents and to prepare for school opening.
The Diocesan-wide schedule is available.
ONLY the training is required to be updated every year—not your paperwork.1. Complete the On-Line Screening form (includes permission/release for background check and reference information). A personal reference is someone who has known you for three years or more —and cannot be a family member/relative (email addresses for references must be given).You can currently do your initial training online. Please go to https://dallas.setanet.org/obligations.php.
3. Complete a written Interview (done at training)— to be viewed by the head of ministry/Director of Safe Environment/or parish designate.
4. Complete the Acknowledgment form (included in the online screening form), affirming that you have read the SEP booklet and agree to abide by its instructions and guidelines.
5. Complete the Social Media Policy form (included in the online screening form), affirming that you have read the booklet and agree to abide by its instructions and guidelines (applicable to all employees, clergy, volunteers, etc.).
6. Submit a Background check—this will be conducted and documented by a Diocesan-approved vendor—currently Accutrak, from the information you provided on the screening form.
7. Have your picture taken for the badge at the initial training session or by appointment.
NOTICE: If you have been screened and cleared at another parish in the Diocese of Dallas, please add one of the locations, St Pius X Church or School, to your database record so the safety officer may access it.
COMPLETION OF REQUIRED FORMS: Screening forms are completed ON-LINE only
These are the steps required if you are new to the Safe Environment program and have never attended training in the diocese. If you have already been trained and need to update the annual training, click here.
QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS REGARDING THE SAFE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO JIM MERKEL: [email protected] -
Picture ID BadgesWe have been fortunate to have a parishioner who provides “cleared” volunteers with badges and we ask each volunteer to wear the ID when you are on campus or representing St. Pius as a chaperone. This enables the children and other adults to see at a glance that you have been properly screened.
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Supervision GuidelinesParents should not drop students off at school until official supervision begins at 7:25 a.m. Students MUST be picked up by 3:25 p.m. If you need after-school care, contact the YMCA (on-site after school); arrangements are made directly with them at (469) 348-9622.
An adequate number of CLEARED adults (minimum of 2) will be present at parish-sponsored events involving children/youth. If you notice that proper supervision is not in place (especially for extracurricular events held on campus—athletic practices, scouts, etc.), we ask that you stay with your child until the requirement is met.
All parish/school events involving minors have specific starting and ending times—please do not put YOUR CHILD at risk by ignoring the guidelines. Many teachers/volunteers have been responsible for supervising your child—we must not take advantage of their generosity. -
Child Abuse AwarenessIf you believe that you, or someone you know, is a victim of past or present abuse or sexual abuse, please notify law enforcement. If the abuse involves a minor, please contact the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services through the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or www.txabusehotline.org).
Finally, if the abuse involves a member of the clergy, a parish employee, or a diocesan employee, in addition to contacting appropriate civil authorities, please also notify [email protected] or the Diocese of Dallas Victim Assistance Coordinator, Brenda Martinez at 214-379-2812.