This is a reminder that the Diocese of Pittsburgh has created a Safe Environment policy for all adults who encounter children while volunteering at our parish. The purpose of this policy is to:

Take reasonable measures to assure that church personnel who have regular contact with minors are committed to providing a safe environment for children and youth, are capable of identifying and preventing abuse of children, and have no personal history of behavior that would be a threat to children.*

As of May 1, 2008, the Diocese has explicitly defined the ministries which must comply with the Safe Environment policy. They include the following:
- Altar Server – Adult
- Cantor
- Child Care Giver
- Choir Member – Vocal/Bell
- Elderly Outreach Volunteer
- Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
- Lector/Reader
- Usher/Greeter/Minister of Hospitality

The policy requirements are as follows:

• Visit the diocesan website: www.diopitt.org
• Scroll down to the lower left hand side of the page, and click on the block that says “Diocese of Pittsburgh Data Base Application.”
• The access code is “PROTECT.”

If you do not have a computer, paper copies of the application are available in the Parish Office.

• Complete a PA Child Abuse Clearance form and submit it in an unsealed envelope to the Parish Office. You can find the form online - search: "PA Child Abuse Clearance"
• The parish will provide the $10 processing fee.
• Please contact the Parish Office when you receive your Child Abuse clearance confirmation.

• PGC educates adults about how to protect children from child sexual abuse.
• PGC is offered frequently throughout the Diocese and requires 2-3 hours of your time.
• PGC workshops are listed on the diocesan website.

• The CPC booklet is available on the counter below the parish mailboxes, and in the parish office.
• Please read, and become familiar with the booklet, then complete the back page “Acknowledgement of Receipt,” and return it to the parish office.

All of the information above is available online at www.diopitt.org. From the main diocesan webpage, follow the links for Diocesan Abuse Prevention Effort, and then Essential Documents Each Parish Should Have at All Times. All guidelines are listed in the link entitled: Safe Environment Policy.

Path to Guidelines: www.diopitt.org
- Diocesan Abuse Prevention Effort
- Essential Documents Each Parish Should Have at All Times
- Safe Environment Policy (All guidelines listed here)

If you have any questions regarding any of these requirements, please:
Contact: Mary Swindal, St. Scholastica Safe Environment Coordinator
Phone: (412)791-0186 x10
Email: mswindal@saintscholastica.com

Thank you!

*From the Diocese of Pittsburgh, Office of the General Secretariat, document GS-S, effective May 1, 2008.