Safe Environment Program

All adults who will have any possible contact with children need a PA State Police Criminal Record Check and a PA Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse Clearance Check.

A Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint Clearance is also required for all volunteers who do not live in PA or have lived outside of PA sometime during the past ten years.

Volunteers who have lived in Pennsylvania continuously for ten year must complete the “Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers.”

These clearances must be obtained before volunteer activity begins.

The requirements for the Safe Environment are changed often by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Please note that the Archdiocesan requirements include Pennsylvania’s requirements and may be stricter. Our parish follows the Archdiocesan requirements:  http://childyouthprotection.org/index.php/staff-volunteers/checks-and-clearances

Obtaining Required Background Checks

1. PA State Police Criminal Record Check (free for volunteers)

Can be obtained online at https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp with results available within a few minutes

2. PA Department Human Services Child Abuse History Clearance (free for volunteers)

Can be obtained online at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS

3a. Federal Criminal Background Check:

Go to www.pa.cogentid.com to schedule an appointment and pay for the background check

3b. Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers

Form located here

Adult volunteers of the parish who have regular contact with children (at least one time per week for the sports season or practice season or school year) need the background checks and also must complete the training requirements:

Safe Environment Part I: Protecting God’s Children

Safe Environment Part II: Mandated Reporting of Suspected Child Abuse (this is now available online).

Training

http://childyouthprotection.org/index.php/staff-volunteers/required-training

Volunteers with regular contact also must fill in additional form:

    Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement Form  (Mandated Reporter Brochure)

Completed clearances and forms are kept on file at the rectory for volunteers in the Parish—this includes all CYO volunteers. These documents may be delivered to the rectory by hand or mail, (2316 Fairhill Avenue, Glenside, PA 19038), by email ([email protected]), or by fax (215-572-0482).

Please contact Jeanne Kyle, [email protected], at the rectory for more information about the Safe Environment Program.