The Importance of Safe Environment Requirements

The safety and well-being of every child entrusted to our care is one of our highest priorities as a Catholic school community. Our Safe Environment requirements, established in accordance with the Office of Catholic Education and applicable Pennsylvania regulations, help ensure that our school remains a safe, secure, and welcoming place for all students.

These requirements include appropriate background clearances, mandated reporter responsibilities, and Safe Environment training for those who work with or have regular contact with our students. Pennsylvania law requires certain employees and volunteers who have direct contact with children to obtain appropriate clearances, and school personnel have responsibilities as mandated reporters of suspected child abuse.

Compliance with these requirements is more than simply fulfilling an obligation—it is an important part of our commitment to protecting our children and creating a culture of safety, awareness, and accountability. As a Catholic community, we are called to care for and safeguard the dignity and well-being of every child.

 

REQUIREMENTS

Clearances Required for Volunteers: If you plan to volunteer with children in any capacity at Assumption Academy, you need to have Safe Environment clearances in place. If you are not sure if your clearances have expired, you may contact the office at [email protected]

In Assumption Academy community, volunteers who have any contact with children are required to submit all state and federal clearances (items 1-3 below), complete the Safe Environment Training, Parts I and II (listed below: items 4-5) and complete the Mandated Reporter Form (if needed item #6 ) before beginning their volunteering. 

Every person needs to have these clearances:

1. Pennsylvania State Police Clearance (valid for 5 years), which can be obtained online at https://epatch.state.pa.us

2. Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance (valid for 5 years), which can be obtained online at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis

3a. If you have been living in PA for fewer than ten (10) continuous years, this is the clearance you must obtain:

All required current and/or prospective employees or volunteers should select the DHS-OCYF (Department of Human Services-Office of Children, Youth and Families) option.

3b. If you have been living in PA continuously for ten (10) years, this is the form you must sign:

PA Residency Disclosure Statement for volunteers (valid for 5 years) to be filed at the place of service. Please note: This is new as of July 2015.

4. Safe Environment Training Part I: Protecting God’s Children (instructor-led): is offered regularly at sites throughout the Archdiocese. The training provides basic facts about child sexual abuse and adults’ roles in prevention, and since 2011, a Technology Addendum is included in this training as well. Click here to ‘Start Registration’ and select a date. If you have already done this session, you do not have to repeat this training. If you completed this classroom training prior to 2011, you will have to complete the Technology Addendum separately.

Please note: At the completion of this session, you will be issued a certificate confirming training in the Standards of Ministerial Behavior and the Technology Addendum. You must provide the certificate to the main office to keep in your file.

5. Safe Environment Training Part II: The Mandatory Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse: is available online at the Archdiocesan Training Institute. This training provides an overview of Archdiocesan reporting procedures for suspected child abuse and Pennsylvania Child Welfare Laws. The training should take you approximately one hour to complete. Click Here to Register. Please note: This is new as of 2015.