All volunteers and employees at All Saints Parish must comply with Safe Environment requirements, which the Diocese of Pittsburgh administers for all its parishes. 

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?

     The Diocese of Pittsburgh requires the following:

• 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) – This trains individuals on how to recognize and report child abuse.

Once I get my clearances, am I done?

Clearances need to be updated.  Every 5 years, the Child Abuse History Clearance, FBI Clearance or Waiver, and Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History Clearance need to be renewed.  Every 3 years, the diocese requires recertification training to follow up on the original Protecting God's Children.  Currently the training – which is 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.      

Safe Environment Coordinator Georgene Natali will notify you when your clearances need to be renewed.

When you need to update your Protecting God's Children Maltreatment 3.2 and Vulnerable Adults Training, you will receive an email notice from VIRTUS.org, which provides the training online, with email instructions.  The training takes about one and a half hours.

If you do not have a computer, one is available with All Saints Parish by appointment. 

To whom do I address questions?

Safe Environment Coordinator Georgene Natali
724-287-1759 x 1017 (Mondays - Thursdays between 9 am - 1:30 pm)
[email protected] 

You can start the process or check to see if your clearances are up-to-date. It can take weeks to get the clearances in order so please do not wait until the last minute. 

Confidentiality?

Some information in this article is excerpted from diopitt.org.

All Saints Parish is committed to providing a safe environment for all children and adults entrusted to our care. 

Before serving as a volunteer, you must meet the safe-environment requirements set forth by the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
 
 Click here to connect to the Diocese's website, which has step-by-step instructions.
 
For more information or for assistance with enrolling in the Diocese of Pittsburgh Safe Environment Database, please contact Safe Environment Coordinator Georgene Natali at 724-287-1759 or [email protected]

Child Protective Services Law

Call 911 immediately if you suspect a child is in imminent danger.

Any individual – paid or volunteer – who comes into contact with children in the course of his or her work is considered a mandated reporter of child abuse. Mandated reporters having reasonable cause to believe that a child has been subjected to child abuse, or acts of child abuse, shall report immediately to the following agencies:
PA Child Abuse Hotline (Childline): 800-932-0313
Butler County Children & Youth Services: 724-284-5156
Diocesan Victim Assistance Hotline: 1-800-808-1235
Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator: 412-456-3093 (office)