Safe Environment

St. Bernard’s Church and School both follow the Diocese of Dallas Safe Environment Program. The program is designed to help and protect the youth, elderly and vulnerable adults of our parish as they participate in activities within our community.

God entrusts us with the spiritual, emotional, and physical well being of minors and vulnerable adults. As they participate in activities within or sponsored by our Diocese, it is our responsibility to provide an environment that is safe and nurturing.

It is required that all visitors sign in at the office and receive a visitor badge.

Purpose

The Safe Environment Program has been adopted to:

1. Provide a safe and secure environment for the minors and vulnerable adults in our faith community.

2. Reduce the possibility of false accusations against clergy, employees and volunteers.

3. Provide a structure for evaluating a person's suitability to work with minors or vulnerable adults.

4. Provide a system to respond to the victim and his/her family as well as the accused.

New Volunteers

If you have not been cleared as a volunteer by a parish of the Dallas Diocese the following steps need to be taken:

1. You must complete the Safe Environment Screening form. This form requires three (3) references. The references must include complete address and phone number. The references you provide should not be family members.

2. Read the Parish and Diocese of Dallas’ Safe Environment Manual. A copy of this document is provided for you to keep as a guide.

These forms can be provided to you by contacting Olga at the Church Rectory. Once you have completed these forms return them to the rectory or mail them to: Olga Sepulveda at 1404 Old Gate Lane, Dallas, Texas 75218, or faxing it to Olga at 214-321-0119.

3. You also have to attend a training session to view a video. If you are unable to complete 1 and 2 prior to the training session, these forms will be available to you at the session. But it is recommended that you get these to me prior to attending. PLEASE DO NOT BRING YOUR CHILDREN DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE SUBJECT MATTER.

You can also retrieve the Safe Environment Screening forms here and view a seminar to get certified by going on the internet and linking to the Church Law Today website.

The following are the steps:

1. Go to Church Law Today website.

2. Click on “Congregational Training.”

3. Enter User Name, Dallas (case sensitive)

4. Enter Password, Diocese (case sensitive).

5. Click on “Online Seminars”

6. Click on Any of the following seminars:“Understanding the Problem of Child Abuse & the Church”
“Principles of Supervising Children & Youth”
“Reporting Child Abuse” “Responding to Allegations of Abuse”

7. Read through the seminar.

8. Print off “Comprehensive Test”.

9. Answer each question.

When the Safety Officer receives your completed forms the information will be sent to a central clearing agency chosen by the Diocese to conduct a criminal history check.

The central clearing agency returns the information to me and it is kept strictly confidential.

Previously Cleared Volunteers

All cleared volunteers must attend an Annual Awareness Update session. This can be done by either attending a formal training session or by the on line program,

Go to Church Law Today website. Please be sure to get a certificate from the training that you attend, or through the internet for our files as a matter of record. This year picture ID’s are going to be issued to everyone. If you come to a training session the ID’s will be taken at the conclusion of the program. If you take the Safety training through the Internet, please contact the Rectory to make arrangements get your picture taken. Once you receive your ID you are required to wear it at all times when you are volunteering at a school activity. The initial ID will be at no expense. If your ID is lost and a replacement must be issued it will be at a cost of five dollars.

The St. Bernard of Clairvaux Safe Environment Program is Administered by Olga Sepulveda, Safety Officer.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Olga at 214-321-0454.