Clearances for Volunteers as Legally Required by the State and Training as Required by the Archdiocese
A copy of all clearances and training certificates must be submitted to the SJN Safe Environment Coordinator (SEC) prior to volunteering with children in any capacity including but not limited to CYO Coach, Coaching Assistant, PREP Instructor, Little Children’s Church School Monitor, etc.
Coaches: CYO Information link - http://cyophilly.com/
A. SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING (2 PARTS; no cost for either training)
1. Protecting God’s Children (in-person or Zoom) - must sign up by registering at virtusonline.org or use this link: https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/reg_list2.cfm?theOrgID=18461&theme=0
This training provides basic facts about child sexual abuse, adults’ roles in prevention and a video about how perpetrators successfully gain a child’s trust. If you attend in person, sign the Ministerial Behaviors/Tech Addendum form that you receive at the end and give the white copy to the SJN SEC. If you attend by Zoom, the SJN SEC will send Ministerial Behaviors/Tech Addendum form to you for signature.
2. Mandated Reporter (online) - must sign up by registering at childyouthprotection.org or use this link: https://learning.childyouthprotection.org/login/index.php
This training provides an overview of Archdiocesan reporting procedures for suspected child abuse and Pennsylvania Child Welfare Laws. Print out the certificate provided at the end and submit to SJN SEC.
B. REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECKS (Clearances) – Renewal is required every 5 years; no cost for volunteers
1. PA State Police Criminal Record Check
Allow approximately 10-15 minutes and submit a request online at https://epatch.pa.gov/home. Click “New Volunteer Record Check”. An email from PATCH with a link to get the results is typically received within a few minutes. Double click on the Control# and then “Certification Form” to get the certificate with the seal. Submit the certificate to the SJN SEC.
2. PA Child Abuse Clearance Check
Allow approximately 15 minutes and submit a request online at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS. You must set up a username and password. Save both. They are needed to access the document later. To waive the fee, identify yourself as a volunteer. The site will state that it takes 2 weeks, but an email from ‘[email protected]’ with a link to get the results is typically received within an hour. Submit the certificate to the SJN SEC.
3. Federal Criminal Background Check or a Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers
a. Federal background check – if you have NOT lived in Pennsylvania for the entire previous 10 years, make an appointment to have your fingerprints taken at https://uenroll.identogo.com. Enter the Service Code: 1KG6ZJ (for volunteers). You have only one chance to access your results and print them using the link in the email you receive shortly after you are fingerprinted. Ensure you have access to a printer before proceeding. Any typo will prevent a second attempt to access your results. Submit the certificate to SJN SEC.
b. Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers (DSAV) - if you have lived in Pennsylvania for the entire previous 10 years, you do not need to be fingerprinted. Print, read and sign the DSAV and have a witness read and sign the DSAV. http://childyouthprotection.org/docs/disclosure%20statement%20volunteers.pdf The witness may be a spouse, parent, sibling, or any other adult who can attest to the truth of your signed disclaimer).
C. Coaching Course
1. In addition to the clearances required by the Parish, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia CYO program requires all coaches to complete the online CYO Catholic Coaches Orientation Course. Once you've taken the course, print out the certificate and send it to the SJN SEC and the CYO Board. A link to the course is below - you will need to create a log in and find the online course for your specific sport or take the general course. The date of the course is your "orientation" date.
Organization: CYO ATHLETIC MINISTRY OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA (Do not choose a sub organization)
Course: https://coacheducation.humankinetics.com/collections/409?sort_by=title-ascending
A PDF or scanned image emailed to [email protected] is the preferred delivery method, or documents can be dropped off at the rectory or sent to school with a note stating “Safe Environment – Julie Frissora”.
The SJN SEC will confirm the receipt of each document via email. Do not wait until you have all of the documents to start sending them. If you encounter a roadblock or need assistance, email or call the SJN Safe Environment Coordinator per the information below.
Julie Frissora
Safe Environment Coordinator
St John Neumann Parish
380 Highland Lane Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 610-525-3100