Safe Environment Training Programs

Implementation of the Archdiocese’s Safe Environment Training Programs include:

Protecting God’s Children - For all parish volunteers, staff, and clergy, this is an Archdiocese requirement designed to educate adults on how to recognize the warning signs that might indicate that a child is being abused. To register for training and learn more about this program see below.

Empowering God's Children - For students in grades 1-10. An Archdiocesan program which includes teaching a culture of respect and faith that goes beyond mere protection, helping children and young people understand their own sacredness, the sacredness of others, and how to seek help through their relationships with trusted adults.
Go to Empowering God's Children (for students grades 1-10)

Performing Criminal Background checks (CORI) - The CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) form is submitted every year by all volunteers age 18 and older, staff, and clergy. (Fiscal year for the Archdiocese is July 1 - June 30). The CORI is a background screening tool, required by the Archdiocese, to secure the safety of our children, youth, elderly and the disabled.
More information: Office for Background Screening - https://www.bostoncatholic.org/background-screening

Protecting God's Children

For Teachers & Volunteers:

We have a serious role in our responsibility to keep all children and vulnerable adults safe. For this reason, we require all employees and volunteers to:

Complete a CORI form each year as mandated by the Archdiocese of Boston, Child Advocacy Office (Fiscal year for the Archdiocese is July 1 - June 30).
Receive and review the Archdiocesan Ministerial Code of Conduct.
Participate in the Protecting God's Children for Adults/Virtus training. The training is offered throughout the Archdiocese all year. Click here for a full Virtus/Protecting God's Children Training Schedule (select Boston, MA Archdiocese).

Other Safe Environment Training

Empowering God's Children (for students grades 1-10) - see below

Empowering God's Children

For students in grades 1 - 10. Empowering God’s Children® (a program sanctioned by the Archdiocese of Boston) is an age-appropriate comprehensive program through which educators and parents can give children and youth the tools they need to protect themselves by teaching them about safety rights and boundaries. The Archdiocese of Boston is committed to safety and requires its parish communities to integrate this safety information into their programming.

Dear Parents,

The Saint Patrick Parish Religious Education program is required by the Archdiocese of Boston to have a Safe Environment Program. A Safe Environment Program includes initiatives for keeping all of God’s children safe.

Our community Safe Environment Program requires of all volunteers:

An annual background screening (CORI)
Virtus' Protecting God's Children Training
Compliance with St. Patrick Parish Code of Conduct & Harassment Prevention Policies
A volunteer application and reference sheet reviewed by St. Patrick Parish staff

Additional to screening and educating volunteers, the parish is required to offer the Archdiocesan approved program, Empowering All God's Children to children enrolled in Faith Formation Grades 1-10. This program teaches a culture of respect and faith, helping children and young people understand their own sacredness, the sacredness of others, and how to seek help.

As required by the Archdiocese of Boston, this year we will provide your family the materials needed to appropriately talk to your children about this important subject. We will not be teaching this program in our classes this year.

Additional materials used as resources for teaching are located on our website by clicking the tab titled, Empowering All God’s Children.

Please use the link below to access Empowering All God's Children Parent Lesson Plans.

Instructions for parents/guardians to access the VIRTUS Empowering God’s Children material:

Go to WWW.VIRTUSonline.org
On the left side log in with the following information:

User Name: Parent_Boston
Password: EGCBoston1

This will bring you to the Educator Tab where you will see the lesson plans and information for Empowering God’s Children.

Thank you for all your support.

Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Best,
Religious Education Staff

NOTE:

You, as a parent, are expected to review the material with your child/children at home. If you do not want your child/children to participate in the Empowering God's Children program please fill out the Opt-Out Form below and return it to the religious education office.

Parent Opt Out Form PDF