What is the "Safe Environment Program"?

If you are a catechist, teacher, pastoral minister or volunteer in the Diocese of Owensboro, you are undoubtedly aware of the nationwide events that have occurred in recent years within the Church with regard to sexual abuse of minors. In June of 2002, the Bishops of the United States gathered in Dallas and drafted the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Essential Norms for making sure that our children are safe from any abusive conduct by anyone acting in the name of the Church. The Diocese of Owensboro is committed to fully implementing the Charter and Essential Norms, which mandate a "safe environment program" for every diocese in the United States. The Diocese of Owensboro began implementing its version of the Safe Environment Program in autumn of 2003.

Goals: Education and Prevention
Our program consists of two basic parts: (1) education through the Safe Environment program, which has components for both adults and children; and (2) prevention through background checks on all adults who either volunteer with young people in our Catholic parishes, schools, and other agencies which are canonically affiliated with the Diocese of Owensboro or are employed by those institutions.

A Two-Pronged Approach to Education
The Children and Youth Education Prong
Children and young people are offered education on sexual abuse in Catholic schools, parish religious education programs, and youth ministry programs.  The training is expected to be offered annually from kindergarten through high school with age-appropriate materials, wherever possible by using the religious education tools already in place.  The goal is to reach as many children as possible so that by the time our young people reach young adulthood, they are so familiar with what conduct is appropriate and what is not that it will be second nature to them. We want them to be fearless when it comes to responding to and reporting inappropriate behavior by anyone.

The Adult Education Prong
Adults are also provided with training.  The adult program is offered not only to parents, employees, and volunteers, but also to any individuals who have contact with children and youth. This program is mandatory every five years for teachers, school employees, catechists, volunteers who work with young people, parish employees, clergy and religious within the Diocese of Owensboro.  Our goal is to educate as many adults as possible on sexual abuse, including its signs, the tactics used by perpetrators, and how to report incidents. The more adults are educated, the more eyes and ears are out there in the community, listening and watching for signs of abuse that might indicate that a child needs help. 

Other Precautions
In addition to this training, all employees and volunteers who work with youths must sign a statement of acknowledgement that they have read, understand and will abide by the Diocesan Sexual Abuse Policy. Also required is acknowledgement of and adherence to the Adult Code of Conduct, which informs and regulates behavior when adults are ministering in the presence of our children and youth. We are sincerely committed to the belief that when the faithful are educated about abuse, its signs, and methods of greater protection and safety, the Church not only is a safer environment for our children and youth, but is instrumental in helping society eradicate such horrible crimes.

Criminal Background Checks
Upon initially presenting for ministry in a diocesan parish or school, whether as an employee or a volunteer, an individual must attend an adult Safe Environment program. There, the individual will complete and sign the necessary forms for completion of a background check. These forms are sent by the place of ministry to the Diocesan Office of Safe Environment, where they are used to compile a comprehensive profile through various governmental agencies. We also check to see if any individual is listed on the National Sex Offender Registry.

If there are no offenses that preclude ministry, the individual is sent a wallet-sized card stating that he or she is cleared for ministry for a limited period of time. If there is an offense indicated, the person may receive a restriction, such as the inability to transport children due to driving infractions. If the offenses are serious enough, a person is prohibited from ministry with children, either permanently or until a specified date in the future. Any conviction for a sexual offense of any nature automatically precludes a person from ministry with children on a permanent basis.

Background checks submitted from this office beginning August 25, 2006, are for a period of five years, at which time a person must renew the background check.  Background checks submitted prior to that date are for a period of two years.  A person must have a current background check as part of the Safe Environment requirements.

All of these requirements are necessary to ensure the safety of our children, our youth, and those adults who work with them.