{"id":534,"date":"2023-12-31T16:46:25","date_gmt":"2023-12-31T16:46:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sjp2smcc.org\/?page_id=534"},"modified":"2023-12-31T17:31:47","modified_gmt":"2023-12-31T17:31:47","slug":"safe-environment-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sjp2smcc.org\/index.php\/safe-environment-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Safe Environment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Safe Environment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Department of Children and Family Services<\/strong>\u2018 24-Hour Child Abuse Reporting Hotline
<\/strong>1-800-252-2873.
If you believe a child is in immediate danger of harm, call 911 first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese\u2019 Safe Environment Hotline<\/strong>
+1 224-225-9121<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hotline to Report Abuse by a Bishop<\/strong>
https:\/\/reportbishopabuse.org<\/a> or 1-800-276-1562<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn about Georgia\u2019s MANDATORY Child Abuse Reporting Law- How?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of July 1, 2012, Georgia law states that all employees, volunteers, and clergy are Mandatory Reporters and are required to report any suspected child abuse or neglect. All suspected child abuse must be immediately reported but in no case later than 24 hours from the time there is reasonable cause to believe a child has been abused. The report should be made immediately to the Supervisor of the Parish or School (Pastor or Principal) and the Department of Family and Children Services (DFCS<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the allegation of abuse involves a member of the clergy, employee, or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, please contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection during business hours or the Diocean 24 hour Abuse Reporting line at 1-224-225-9121.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2019, Pope Francis issued Vos Estis Lux Mundi, which contained a call for the church to establish a way for people to report abuse by bishops. The service set up in the United States is called the Catholic Bishop Abuse Service. There is a hotline number and website where people can report abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This service has been created to gather and relay reports of sexual misconduct involving bishops of the United States, and reports of their intentional interference in a sexual abuse investigation. If you wish to report any other kind of misconduct by a bishop, please contact your local diocese or eparchy instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you wish to report sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, religious brother or sister, or layperson working for the Church, please contact instead the Victim Assistance Coordinator in your local diocese or eparchy. If your report involves a crime committed by anyone connected with the Church, please also contact the police.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can make a report online at https:\/\/reportbishopabuse.org\/<\/a> or call (800) 276-1562.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

St. John Paul 2 Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is committed to providing a safe environment for you and your family to worship and grow in your Catholic faith.  Our parish follows the archdiocesan safe environment policies and procedures in accordance with the U.S. Bishop\u2019s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People<\/a>.  Safe Environment programs are in place to assist parents and children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Safe Environment Record Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Safe Environment for ADULT VOLUNTEERS  <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All clergy and staff, as well as ADULT volunteers whose duties involve contact with minors and vulnerable adults, undergo a background check (Sterling) and attend a required safe environment training (VIRTUS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safe Environment for MINOR VOLUNTEERS  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Minor volunteers are defined as volunteers who are aged 13 \u2013 17<\/strong> or older than 17 if still enrolled in high school.  Minor volunteers are present to assist the adult supervisor, and not supervise a group of children.  All Volunteers must be at least five years older than the minors for which they are in contact.  Minor volunteers must always be under the supervision of two Safe Environment Compliant adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following paperwork on this page must be completed and returned to DRE-CCD in the parish office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1.  Minor Volunteer Application<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2.  School Reference Form<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3.  If a minor is homeschooled, instead of the Minor School Reference form, s\/he must provide three non-relative references, which are then to be checked by the Safe Environment Coordinator<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    VIRTUS Trainings<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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    VIRTUS Protecting God\u2019s Children (commonly referred to as \u201cVirtus\u201d) is the training program for adults and children in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013 All clergy and staff, as well as any ADULT volunteers whose duties involve contact with minors and vulnerable adults, must<\/strong><\/em> attend a VIRTUS Training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u2013  All adults are invited, and parents are strongly encouraged to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Upcoming Virtus session<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    DAY: TBD
    Location: TBD<\/strong>
    *These sessions are open to ALL in the Parish.  No childcare is provided. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    VIRTUS for ADULTS VOLUNTEERS \u2013  <\/strong>How to register to attend VIRTUS  ADULT Training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Create an account and pre-register instructions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A summarized version of the registration steps is listed below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1.  Go to https:\/\/www.virtusonline.org\/virtus\/<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2.  Click on Registration<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3.  Select Begin the Registration Process<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4.  Select Atlanta, GA (Archdiocese)<\/strong> from the drop-down menu<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5.  Create a User ID and password \u2013 Do not use a shared email address<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6.  Complete personal information<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7.  Select a primary location, role, and title (If you are an EMPLOYEE of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, please select your employer as the primary location)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8.  Let us know if you are involved with more than one location<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    9.  Select a Protecting God\u2019s Children<\/em> session from the list<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      USCCB mandates Churches, schools, and youth organizations must ensure that children and youth who worship, study, or participate in activities sponsored by a parish can do so in the safest and most secure setting possible. Parents and caretakers have the right to ask these institutions if they meet the requirements of the Charter before they allow their children to become involved with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      An effective safe environment program will have the following components:<\/p>\n\n\n\n