Safe Environment

St. Joseph Parish follows the Archdiocese of St. Louis' Safe Environment Program (Protecting God’s Children). The program is designed to help protect the youth, elderly, and vulnerable adults of our parish as they participate in activities within our community. This process also provides a layer of protection against the possibility of false accusations for those adults who are involved in our many ministries.

I WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER (WITH CHILDREN AND/OR VULNERABLE ADULTS) AT ST. JOSEPH. WHAT IS REQUIRED?

The Archdiocese of St. Louis developed a system for safe environment compliance called Prevent and Protect STL. Everyone (clergy, employees, and volunteers) ministering to minors and vulnerable adults in the Archdiocese is required to register in the system and complete the required training.

• For those who have already attended a Protecting God’s Children workshop, your previous training date will transfer to this system. Then you will register for a background screening, view two online training modules on abuse reporting and the Code of Ethical Conduct, and agree to the Code of Ethical Conduct. These steps may be completed all at once or may be completed separately at your convenience. When all compliance requirements have been completed, your account will be approved and you will be cleared to work with minors and vulnerable adults. Please go to www.preventandprotectstl.org to register. Enter the passcode stlprotect when prompted. Click here for complete instructions.  

 

• For those who have not attended a Protecting God’s Children workshop, please go to www.preventandprotectstl.org to register for the workshop and complete the rest of the requirements. Enter the passcode stlprotect when prompted. In addition to attending the live workshop, you will need to register for a background screening, view two online training modules on abuse reporting and the Code of Ethical Conduct, and agree to the updated Code of Ethical Conduct. These steps may be completed all at once or maybe completed separately at your convenience. When all compliance requirements have been completed, your account will be approved and you will be cleared to work with minors and vulnerable adults. Click here for complete instructions.

 

• Minors (under the age of 18 or those who are 18 but still in high school) who are employees or volunteers need to read, sign, and return to the Parish Office the Code of Ethical Conduct for Minors (attached at the end of this page).  A parent’s signature is also required on this form.

More information about the Safe Environment Program can be found on the Archdiocesan web page, https://www.archstl.org/crisis-support/child-and-youth-protection/.  

For questions about the Safe Environment Program at St. Joseph, contact Gisela Pacheco in the Parish Office at (636) 227-5247.

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Victims of sexual abuse, in addition to contacting civil authorities, are asked to come forward in order to receive pastoral assistance. Reports of abuse may be made to any Pastor or to:
           
            Sandra Price, Executive Director
            Office of Child & Youth Protection
            314-792-7271
            [email protected]
 
            Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division
            Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline:
            1-800-392-3738

            Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services
            Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline:
            1-800-392-0210

Anyone wishing to make a complaint against a bishop of sexual abuse or other related misconduct may make such a report at ReportBishopAbuse.org or by calling toll-free 1-800-276-1562.