Safe Environment Requirements - St. Katharine of Siena

Safe Environment Requirements

Thank you for volunteering to assist in our programs for children. Our goal is to have a safe environment for our children. All adults who have regular contact with children ( this includes all head and assistant coaches) must first fulfill the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Safe Environment Program Requirements.

A Criminal Record Check must be completed. This form goes directly to the PA. State Police (download here). You must fill in the information and send a $10.00 money order or certified check.

To obtain immediate results, click https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp - $10 fee payable with credit card;

A Federal Criminal History Background Check is required for those who have lived outside Pennsylvania during the past two years or do not live in PA. Please call Office for Child and Youth Protection, 215-587-2466 to obtain the fingerprint card;
A Child Abuse Clearance is obtained from the Childline group( download here). A form is completed by you and mailed with a $10.00 money order or certified check and a copy of your Criminal Background Check. If you would like the Clearance to be returned to St. Katharine of Siena, sign the Consent form (download here) otherwise this form is returned to you and you must submit it to us;

During the interim years, employees and volunteers are now required to complete and submit the Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form. You can access the Arrest/Conviction Report Form and the list of Enumerated Offenses on the Archdiocesan website (www.archphila.org, click the "Safe Environment" link on the lower right hand menu, and once on the Office for Child and Youth Protection webpage, click "Safe Environment" again). Please send the completed form to Sister Kathleen Callaghan.
The Safe Environment class, Protecting God's Children, must be completed. You can Click here to find a date and location. You can also check the parish bulletin for sessions offered at St. Katharine of Siena. We usually have at least one course at the start of every sports season;
Signed acknowledgement of commitment to Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries (download here);

Note: Items one and two must be renewed every 5 years. Item three is complete once the class has been completed and does not need renewal.

All forms must be returned to Sister Kathleen Callaghan, St. Katharine of Siena Rectory. You may contact her at St. Katharine's Rectory (610-688-7890 or Email) to confirm or with questions.

Training for Staff & Volunteers

All priests and deacons, as well as parish staff, and volunteers who have regular contact with children, must attend Safe Environment training. This training provides those involved in ministry and service to children with a greater understanding of their role as adults in our Church to be: protectors of children, models of appropriate behavior and relationships, and advocates for those who are most vulnerable.

Click here for the locations and dates of the fall training sessions.

For Parents

The U.S. Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People also involves instruction for parents and guardians. A mailing to all parents with children in our Religious Education Program included Practical Advice for Parents On Preventing Child Sexual Abuse (a document in pdf format).

Victim Assistance Coordinators
for Sexually Abused Minors
215-587-3880

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia provides comprehensive assistance to anyone who as a minor was sexually abused by a priest, deacon, teacher, employee or representative of the Archdiocese. Parents, guardians, children and survivors of sexual abuse are invited and encouraged to contact the Archdiocese.

The contact will be a confidential consultation with a Victim Assistance Coordinator who is a licensed social worker. Our Archdiocese is committed to assisting victims in the pursuit of emotional and spiritual well-being.