AOD Safe Environments Policy
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Adopted in April, 2006, and revised in October 2007, the current Archdiocesan Safe Environments Policy specifies requirements for Criminal History Background Checks, Teen Background Certification, and attendance at Protecting God's Children™ (for adults) or Called to Serve™ (for teens) workshops.
Purpose:
The Archdiocese of Detroit is committed to providing safe environments and fostering continuous improvement in every organization that sponsors activities and/or provides services to children and youth. The Archdiocese intends to create communities of informed adults who model appropriate behavior, are vigilant to the warning signs of abuse, take action to prevent abuse, and improve safety. Likewise, the Archdiocese is determined to ensure that facilities, grounds, and procedures promote optimal safety.
General Policy:
All adults who are paid or volunteer personnel (clergy, religious, and lay) shall:
1. have a criminal background check* and have been provided the Pastoral or Volunteer Code of Conduct
before starting any work and
2. participate in a Protecting God's Children™ workshop within six (6) months of a staff or volunteer
assignment, if the potential exists for contact with children or youth.
This may include, but is not limited to, the following:
- Parish Staff (all)
- Choir Director
- Scout Leaders - Boys, Girls, Campfire
- Religious Education - Catechists, Assistants, Hall Monitors
- Vacation Bible School Volunteers
- Youth Group Directors and Volunteers
- School Staff - Faculty, Administrative, Custodial, Substitute Teachers
- Field Trip Chaperones & Drivers
- Retreat Chaperones & Drivers
- Part-Time or Supply Clergy
- Athletic Directors, Coaches, and Assistants
- Knights of Columbus
- Parish Festival Chairpersons
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Soup Kitchen or Domestic Shelter Staffs and Volunteers in locations where children are present
Protecting God's Children™ workshop shall be required within six (6) months of the issuance of this
policy.
4. Voluteers under 18 should be paired with an adult or another teen and regularly supervised by an
adult. Employees or volunteers, aged 16 and older, will attend the Protecting God's Children™
workshop and will have a criminal history background check. Staff and volunteers age 16 to 18 are
required to have parental permission to attend the workshop and to have the criminal history
background check.
5. All parents/guardians are urged to attend a Protecting God's Children™ workshop.
6. Contractors or personnel provided by public school districts cannot be required to attend
Protecting God's Children™ workshops. However, it is required that background checks be done
by the contractor of the employees working in facilities, when children or youth are present.
Requirement:
Each organization shall maintain a database of all staff and volunteers with the dates of each person's criminal background check, receipt of the Code of Conduct and Safe Environment Policies, and participation in a Protecting God's Children™ workshop.
Each organization shall require a copy of the Protecting God's Children™ certificate from each participant. An organization shall accept proof of attendance at a Protecting God's Children™ workshop completed outside the Archdiocese of Detroit or an equivalent training approved by the Office of Safe Environments.
Confirmed attendance at a Protecting God's Children™ workshop is a condition for employment or volunteering. Non-compliance with this policy will result in the loss of employment or volunteer position, until requirements are met.
* Reminder: Archdiocesan Policy states that incumbent Church personnel and volunteers must be screened
every seven (7) years, on their anniversary date.
April 2006