Transcript Child and Youth Protection Requirements

Child and Youth
Protection
Requirements
Good Shepherd Church
State College, PA
July 25-26, 2015
Good Shepherd Parish is dedicated to creating and
maintaining an environment that is welcoming and safe
for everyone, especially our children and youth. We are
committed to ensuring that all volunteers are in full and
complete compliance with the requirements from
• Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown (Catholic Church)
• The State of Pennsylvania
From the bottom of our hearts,
Diocesan Requirements
 Online
Training – (about 1 hour)
youthprotection.dioceseaj.org
 Forms
1. Employee Volunteer Application Form
2. Code of Conduct Form
3. Ministry reference form

Federal or National Background Check*

4.
If PA resident for MORE THAN 10 years
Background Check Authorization
(CBC Clearance Authorization)
The way a volunteer can fulfill the
requirement for the Federal Background
clearance is conditional on how long a
volunteer or employee has lived in the
state of Pennsylvania
 The
diocese requires a Federal/National
Clearance of everyone but…
 The
State requires the FBI version of the
Fed/Nat Clearance for people who have lived
in the state for Less than 10 years.
Federal or National Background Check

If you already have a National Background Clearance
(<3 yrs old) because of another position, a copy of that
certificate will suffice.

Long Time PA (>10 yrs) residents should get CBC
Federal/National Background clearance from Diocese A-J
if they don’t already have one. (Cost: $7.50)

A Nat’l Clearance (FBI) is required by the State of PA for
those who have not lived in the State of PA for 10 year
minimum [solid]. (FBI clearance cost: $25.75)

ALL clearances must be updated every 3 years.
State of Pennsylvania
Requirements
 Pennsylvania
NOTE: If you have applied for and
received these because of your
employment or another volunteer
organization – You do not need to repeat
the procedure but be sure to give GS
copies of your clearance certificates
Child Abuse Clearance
 https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
will need to list your SSN#, addresses since 1975 and
full names and ages of everyone you have lived with in that
time.
 Normally takes a “few” days-2 weeks to receive clearance
 You
 Pennsylvania
State Criminal Background Clearance
https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp
 You
will need your SSN#, name and address
 Immediate response with a certificate. Be ready to SAVE
(pdf) and/or PRINT. (You can’t get back to it)
FBI Clearance
https://www.pa.cogentid.com/index_dpw.htm
You
will need your SSN#, name and address and
Credit Card ($25.75)
REGISTER
ONLINE (next slide)
Immediately
a volunteer will be issued an
“Applicant Registration” that you will print up
for a fingerprinting site.
Three Fingerprinting sites in State College:
 UPS
 UPS
STORE – Hamilton Ave
STORE – Colonnade Way
 PENN STATE – University Police – Eisenhower Deck
www.pa.cogentid.com/index_dpw.htm
If a volunteer does not have reliable
access to Internet or Printing:
 Parish
Laptops will be set up linked to
printer on the 2nd Floor of the Bender
education center. Appointment should be
made through the Parish Office or the
Director of Faith Formation.
If clearance application presents a
financial hardship:
Good Shepherd will assist with payment or cover
all necessary costs for those in need. If you can
make application with your own credit card,
submit record of application or receipt to the
Parish Office for reimbursement.
 If a volunteer does not have a debit or credit
card, contact the parish office to make
arrangements and Good Shepherd will cover
costs.

What if….
 It
is possible that some volunteers will choose not
to complete the required clearances and
paperwork from either the State or the Diocese.
 If
that happens, a volunteer must tell us that is
their choice and remove themselves from ministry
with children and youth.
 Those who do not complete the clearances (etc.)
are welcome to worship and celebrate with us.
They are also welcome to serve, but must choose
ministries where regular, direct contact with
children and youth is NOT required.
Mandatory Reporters of suspected child
abuse – as of July 1, 2015
Employees AND VOLUNTEERS with routine interaction
with children including but not limited to:
Clergy,
Religious,
Parish Office Staff
Music Director & Assistants
Catechists
Youth Ministers
Maintenance Staff
Confirmation Facilitators
Here at Good Shepherd, if someone suspects
a child is a victim of child abuse…
 That
person must be the one to report the
abuse, and the staff of Good Shepherd will
do everything possible to support you in
your role as mandated reporter.
 Notify
the Pastor or the Director of Faith
Formation if you suspect that a child/youth
could be a victim of abuse.
What is mandated reporting procedure?

A Mandated Reporter shall immediately make an oral
report of suspected child abuse to the Department of
Human Services via the Statewide toll-free number,
Childline: (800) 932-0313

M.R. shall also submit a written report.
 For
more on mandated reporting see:
keepkidssafe.pa.gov
IF………
How do we recognize abuse in children or
young people?
ONLINE TRAINING
www.reportabusepa.pitt.edu
3 hr online training. Does NOT have to
be done in one sitting. Certificate of
completion should be on file at Good
Shepherd.

DEADLINES

New volunteers
 MUST
have all required state clearances on file BEFORE they
begin ministry (with direct contact of children and/or youth)
 Diocesan
clearances must be in process and online training
completed by the beginning of ministry with children and
youth.


Faith Formation official start for Elem is September
Current volunteers in Good Standing with Diocesan
Clearances
 Must
have all state clearances on file by Dec. 31, 2015.
 Diocesan
clearances and required forms must be on file and
current by Dec. 31