With the beginning of Sunday School and other programs for children and young people, please remember the importance of child abuse prevention.
As Christians, we are called to care for and protect children, and to create a community where all are safe. Abuse of children and youth in congregations, institutions, agencies, or programs of the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh is wrong and will not be tolerated.
All who minister in the Diocese of Pittsburgh, lay and ordained, volunteer and paid, are entrusted with the care of God’s people, and are responsible for preserving that trust.
Some important steps for keeping children safe include:
Screening
A consistent application and screening process for volunteers is essential. A standard written application, including references, must be completed. An interview and reference checks should be done. These procedures can be simple, but should be thorough and be the same for everyone.
Background Checks
All volunteers and employees who have contact with children are required to complete background checks as specified in Pennsylvania state law. These include a child abuse clearance, a Pennsylvania criminal record check, and an FBI fingerprint background check for anyone who has not lived in Pennsylvania for the past ten years consecutively. Current details of how to obtain the required clearances can be found at www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov.
Training
The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh provides no cost training for child abuse prevention through the Church Pension Fund’s Safeguarding program. This online training can be completed anywhere there is high speed internet access. The short, focused courses can be completed in 30-45 minutes. Certificates are available upon completion of the training. To register for the Safeguarding Training, click here.
Supervision of Programs
It is crucial to monitor and supervise programs for children and youth, implementing guidelines for keeping participants safe as outlined in Diocesan policies.
Full information, further details, and sample forms can be found in the Diocese of Pittsburgh’s Policies for the Protection of Children and Youth from Abuse available here.
Please feel free to contact the Rev. Leslie Reimer at 412 661-0120 or lreimer@calvarypgh.org with any questions or concerns.
We are grateful for the faithful work of all who teach and care for children and young people in the Diocese of Pittsburgh.