Safe Environment

Safe Environment

As Christian adults, we have a moral and legal responsibility and are entrusted by God with the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of minors and vulnerable adults.

Program Mission

As minors and vulnerable adults participate in activities within or sponsored by our diocese, it is our commitment to provide an environment which is safe and nurturing. Therefore, the mission of the Safe Environment Program is:

  • To provide required education for all employees (clergy, religious and laity), those volunteers and others regularly involved with minors, and parents, as to the issue of abuse of children including the detection, prevention and reporting of child abuse.
  • To provide required training programs for children and young people in our Catholic schools and religious education programs. This includes age appropriate materials pertaining to personal safety and information about improper touching and relationships. Children are not expected to be fully knowledgeable about child abuse or of the laws governing care of children but they need to know when they should seek assistance from a trusted adult.
  • To thoroughly screen and evaluate the background of all diocesan employees – clergy, religious and laity – and those volunteers who work with children and young people.
  • To hold those who minister in the name of the Church of Venice – all diocesan employees (clergy, religious and laity) and those volunteers who work with children and young people – to Christ-centered and professional codes of conduct.

 

Misión del Programa

Como adultos Cristianos, tenemos una responsabilidad moral y legal y somos encomendados por Dios con el bienestar espiritual, emocional y físico de los menores y adultos vulnerables. Cuando ellos participan en las actividades en o patrocinadas por nuestra diócesis, es nuestro compromiso proporcionar un ambiente que sea sano y educado. Por lo tanto, la misión del Programa Sano del Ambiente es:

 

  • Investigar y evaluar a fondo los antecedentes de todos los empleados/as diocesanos – clero, religiosos/as y laicado – y aquellos/as voluntarios/as que trabajan con menores y jóvenes.
  • Mantener a aquellos que son ministros en el nombre de la Iglesia de Venece – todos los empleados/as diocesanos (clero, religiosos/as y laicado) y aquellos/as voluntarios/as que trabajan con menores y jóvenes – centrados en Cristo y en los códigos profesionales de conducta.
  • Proporcionar educación para todos los empleados/as (clero, religiosos/as y laicado), aquellos/as voluntarios/as y otros envueltos regularmente con menores, y los padres, en cuanto al tema del abuso de menores incluyendo la detención, la prevención y el informe de abuso del menor.
  • Proporcionar programas de capacitación para menores y jóvenes en nuestras escuelas Católicas. Esto incluye materiales apropiados a la edad, relacionados a la seguridad personal e información acerca de contacto impropio y relaciones. No se espera que los niños estén completamente informados sobre el abuso del menor o de las leyes que gobiernan el cuidado de menores, pero ellos necesitan saber cuándo deben buscar ayuda de un adulto de confianza.

 

The Safe Environment Program consists of two core components: Training and Awareness + Background Checking and Fingerprinting.

For more information or to register for the program, click here to visit the Diocesan Safe Environment page.

Report any abuse against minors to the Florida Department of Children and Families at 800-962-2873.

To report abuse by Diocesan personnel or volunteers also notify the Diocesan Victims Assistance Coordinator, Susan Benton, at 941-416-6114.