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Resources for Safe Environment Coordinators
Announcements & Updates
Updated: June 2, 2009| Tips & Resources for Safe Environment Coordinators |
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Important summer information for school principals & coordinators
School Safe Environment Coordinators: As the school year winds down and summer approaches, please keep in mind the following important deadlines and information. May • Safe environment updates were due earlier this month. • If you are working on revising your staff and/or family handbooks for the fall, you may want to include child safety information. In particular, you may want to inform staff and parents of how to report suspected abuse. Click here for a cut and paste version of a handbook notice. June • Updates for the month of May are due on Friday, June 5, 2009. Please log on to the online safe environment database at www.rcbmnh.org to make your updates. At this time, it is a good idea to move to inactive status those who you know will not be returning next fall. • You may also want to contact the trainer for your deanery this month in order to schedule a fall Protecting God’s Children session. For more information about scheduling a PGC session at your school, click here. • Contracts with independent contractors: If your school will be renewing any contracts with independent contractors who regularly work with minors, please keep in mind that certain safe environment language must be included in each of these contracts. Click here for a cut and paste version of the required contract language. July No updates are necessary - we hope you will all be enjoying a well-deserved vacation. August Please pay special attention to: • Coaches - Many sports programs begin this month. Please add the names of new coaches into the safe environment database as they become available. Coaches only have 30 days to complete ALL safe environment requirements. Please request a list of all coaches from your athletic director as this list needs to be submitted to the Office for Ministerial Conduct in September (more information to follow). • Employees - As new staff are hired, please add their names into the database as soon as possible. Make sure they complete their applications, acknowledgement forms, and criminal record checks/fingerprinting as part of the hiring process. Employees, like coaches, only have 30 days from the date of hire to complete all requirements. Principals/athletic directors should inform new hires of this when they make an offer of employment. • New this year! New teachers will have the opportunity to attend a PGC session following the Catholic School Department’s teacher orientation session on Thursday, August 20. In addition, fingerprinting will be available that day. Any teachers who have not attended training or completed fingerprinting prior to August 20 should plan to do so on the orientation day. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reminder: Safe Environment Program Implementation Form Due May 29, 2009.
Reminder: If an employee or volunteer has been “inactive” and is returning to a ministry where they will with minors, please review the person’s safe environment file before moving the person’s database status to “active.” When reviewing the file, you should verify that you have on file both an application and an Acknowledgment Form. Also, you should verify that these forms are completed correctly and fully, and get any corrections or updates made before moving the status to “active.” Thank you! --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Archived Notices & Tips Reminders for coordinators How to Search the Safe Environment Database Tips for reviewing volunteer and employee applications What to do when a person is already in the database Tips for tracking CYO coaches and Boy Scout Volunteers |
Missed our previous notices? Click here to read the archive.
Creating a Safe Church Environment
The Safe Environment Council meets several times per year and consists of one representative recommended by the Dean of each of the nine deaneries and appointed by the Bishop to a three year term. The Safe Environment Council assists and advises the Office for Ministerial Conduct in identifying programs and initiatives that would further promote and ensure a safe environment in the Catholic Church in New Hampshire.
Coordinating Safe Environment Practices
The Safe Environment Coordinator is appointed by the pastor of a parish or principal of a school to assist in ensuring that the Policy is fully implemented. The Safe Environment Coordinator:
- schedules sexual abuse awareness training sessions
- distributes the Policy and Code of Conduct to employees and volunteers who regularly work with minors
- assists the pastor and principal in ensuring that employees and volunteers have completed all applicable background screening and training requirements
- submits compliance information to the Office for Ministerial Conduct
Safe Environment Newsletters
Winter 2008
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Winter 2007
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Spring 2007
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Spring 2006
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Fall 2006
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August 2005
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Winter 2005
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Contact Information
For more information, please contact
Mary Ellen D'Intino
at (603) 669-3100, x149.