All volunteers and employees must comply with Safe Environment requirements.

• Why are volunteers required to have Safe Environment Clearances?
  We follow a Savior whose love for children was so great that he called all of us to become like them and warned that it would be better to drown than to cause harm to their souls. (Matthew 18:3-6) For many years the Diocese of Pittsburgh has exceeded all child protection requirements of both civil law and the U.S. Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. 
  
  As Christian adults, we have a moral and legal responsibility and are entrusted by God with the spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being of children as they participate in activities within or sponsored by our parish and diocese. 
  It is our responsibility and commitment to provide an environment that is safe and nurturing and to ensure that children in the care of the Church come to no harm of any kind.

• What is required with Safe Environment clearances?

  • Child Abuse History Clearance
  • FBI Clearance or Waiver
  • Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance
  • Protecting God’s Children online class, live class, or trauma-sensitive alternative for persons with a history of sexual abuse, who might experience a resurgence of memories and strong emotions that some find detrimental to their personal healing if they watch the videos.
  • Mandated Reporter Training (recommended, but not required for all volunteers) – trains individuals how to recognize and report child abuse.

• Clearances need to be updated/renewed.  
  • Every 5 years: Child Abuse History Clearance, FBI Clearance or Waiver, and Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance.  
  • Every 3 years: The diocese requires recertification training to follow up on the original Protecting God's Children - combined with training on how to recognize abuse or neglect of vulnerable adults – is called Protecting God's Children Maltreatment 3.2 and Vulnerable Adults Training.  (You will receive an email notice from VIRTUS.org at the time updates are required.)   
• A computer is available, with assistance, by appointment.
• It can take a couple of weeks to get clearances.
  
• Contact
  Safe Environment Coordinator *
  Georgene Natali
  Mondays - Thursdays | 9 am - 1:30 pm
  724-287-1759 x 1017 
  [email protected] 
  *Your Safe Environment information is confidential. Our Safe Environment Coordinator is required to keep your information private.  

A portion of this article is excerpted from diopitt.org.