Fact Sheet:
Safe Environment Programs
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops issued the "Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People" in June 2002. The "Charter" requires that all dioceses and eparchies (dioceses of the Eastern Catholic Churches) implement Safe Environment Programs as a means to prevent the abuse of minors by clergy. A Safe Environment Program involves screening adults who would come in regular contact with children, creating a code of conduct for ministers, employees, and volunteers who work regularly with children on behalf of the Church, training adults in how to define, identify and report abuse, and educating parents and children as to what constitutes acceptable behavior and how to report any concerns.
The Office of Child and Youth Protection (OCYP), also established by the "Charter," assists dioceses/eparchies in establishing such Safe Environment Programs by working with the leading child advocacy and abuse prevention organizations around the country to provide information, guidelines, and training for diocesan leaders.
Conduct background checks – Require all personnel who would have regular contact with children/minors to undergo a background investigation by a reputable professional agency, law enforcement or social services agency.
Background investigations should include criminal history checks of the employee/volunteer and, if lawful in that state, the employee/volunteer should be asked if he or she has ever been accused of or investigated for an act of abuse or harassment, and references are to be checked by supervisory personnel within each diocese/eparchy.
Communicate codes of conduct – Prepare written guidelines as to what constitutes appropriate behavior and provide them to each employee and volunteer, who in turn, must acknowledge in writing that such instructions are understood.
Educate children – Dioceses/eparchies should provide age–appropriate material on what is or is not acceptable behavior, including information on improper touching, from adults or other children, as well as instructions on how to report concerns.
Educate and train adults – Beyond outlining guidelines on appropriate behavior, all parents, ministers, educators, church personnel, volunteers and other adults regularly involved with children, are trained on key issues such as:
- what constitutes abuse
- how abuse can be identified and what signs would indicate abuse
- what signs an adult should look for in a potential abuser
- what actions should be taken when it appears as if abuse has taken place
Safe Environment Programs were to be identified, selected and underway as of July 1, 2003. As part of a compliance audit of dioceses/eparchies, the OCYP will verify that Safe Environment Programs are in place.
Dioceses/eparchies may create their own Safe Environment Programs so long as they include the key components of background investigations, education, training, and codes of conduct. The OCYP provides resources and contact information so that diocesan leaders might work with local, regional, or national child advocacy centers to design and implement a program. Dioceses/eparchies are encouraged to promote supplemental/additional features that might in some way improve education, community confidence or increase the overall safety of the church setting.
Office of Child and Youth Protection, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 3211 4th Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20017-1194, (202) 541-5413 | FAX: (202) 541-5410 , Email: ocyp@usccb.org, www.usccb.org/ocyp