Safe Environment
The safety and well-being of all those who attend our school and parish is a top priority. At St. Michael Parish & School, we adhere to all the requirements established by the Diocese of Columbus for the protection of children and the vulnerable. You may find information on these requirements, as well as information on reporting complaints and abuse, on the Diocesan Website at Columbuscatholic.org/safe.
Our Safe Environment Program is designed for the protection of our children in every parish and school activity. Each of our parish and school employees has completed Safe Environment Procedures. With that in mind, ALL VOLUNTEERS 18 years of age and older or those who have graduated from high school who have “care, custody or control” or regular supervised or unsupervised access to children, (Athletics, Children’s Liturgy of the Word, Choir, Clubs, Festival, Religious Education, School, Scouts, Youth Ministry, Altar Serving, etc.) must complete Safe Environment Procedures prior to the first day of volunteering.
Volunteering
Per Diocesan policy, all adult volunteers and employees that minister to or with children need to complete a Protecting God’s Children training course and have a Background Check completed and on-file with the Diocese of Columbus.
To volunteer with children or youth at St. Michael, you must fulfill these requirements:
- Volunteer Application
- Attend a Protecting God’s Children Class (create account and schedule here)
- You will be directed to also create an account with Fastrax/Selection.com. This is an online background check system that will check background information on a quarterly basis with the results being sent directly to the Diocese of Columbus.
- Complete a background check. You can do this by going to Fast Fingerprints (please make an appointment online first) or to the Attorney General website to find a webcheck location near you. If you have lived in Ohio for 5 or more years, you will only need a BCI report, otherwise, you will need a BCI and an FBI report.
For more information about volunteering:
- Safe Environment – FAQ
- A Plan to Protect God’s Children
- Decree: Standards of Conduct for Church Personnel, Including Clergy, Teachers, Employees, Volunteers and Other Persons in Positions of Trust
- Decree Establishing Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests, Deacons or other Church Personnel
- Harassment Policy
- Safe Environment Manual – Diocese of Columbus
Thank you for your time and willingness to minister to the youth of St. Michael Parish and School through volunteerism. Once all requirements are met, you will be notified of your eligibility. Volunteering may not occur until you receive confirmation.
For more information, please contact our Safe Environment Coordinator, Bethany Cook, at [email protected].
Recordkeeping
The Diocese receives and retains the background check results (both BCI & FBI) and Protecting God’s Children class attendance verification. This information is then made available to the individual parishes. Please note that criminal background reports are treated confidentially by both the Diocese and our parish.
Individuals with no break in volunteer service who intend to transfer between Diocesan Parishes can request that their information is transferred to St. Michael Parish.
How to Report
We encourage anyone who is a victim or aware of any form of abuse to contact local law enforcement immediately and contact the Diocesan Victims’ Assistance Coordinator, Laura J. Lewis, M.A., L.P.C.C.-S. at 1-866-448-0217 (toll-free)
Forms are also available at the Parish Office, or online using this Complaint Form.
Sports & Coaching
- All St. Michael coaches must complete the required trainings set forth by the Diocese of Columbus CYO and complete the Safe Environment requirements as well. Below you can find links to all the coach trainings. For all other CYO related questions, please view their website at CCYO.doodlio.com.
- Attend and complete the VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children training.
- Complete a background check with the results being sent directly to the Safe Environment Office at the Diocese of Columbus. Go to Fast Fingerprints for a quick turnaround.
- Complete the Concussion in Sports training.
- This training must be renewed every 3 years.
- Complete the Sudden Cardiac Arrest course (also known as Lindsay’s Law) and video.
- Watch the video every year and review the information sheet.
- Complete the SCA course here.
- Complete Play Like a Champion training (head coaches only)
- Flag Football must complete their trainings here.
Social Media
St. Michael values the protection of our youth and the vulnerable. You can view our Social Media Policy here and refer to section 400.13, page 47, of the Safe Environment Manual for more information on the Diocesan policy for Establishing the Use of Social Media.
Additional Resources
Need help guiding your child on web safety? Netsmartz is full of great information from Cyberbullying, Smartphones, Social Media and more.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) is a great resource for learning more about sexual abuse prevention, trafficking and Amber Alerts.
