Safe Environment

   All Church Personnel* who have completed Called to Protect for Ministries, must complete a safe environment training update in the Armatus program.  This program is an online training system which allows participants to take the class at their convenience, from any computer with Internet access. 
* Church Personnel is defined as all clergy, all employees, and any volunteer with ongoing unsupervised contact with minors and vulnerable adults.

As a parish we follow the requirements of the Safe Environment Program of the Archdiocese of Seattle.  The following are procedures to help us accomplish this on the local level.  

1. All volunteers who work with youth or vulnerable adults  sign a background check authorization and receive a copy of Archdiocesan Policies and have a completed background check done before beginning their ministry.  These checks are renewed every three years.   
   
2. Each volunteer will receive the following when they sign for a background check.
   a. The Policy for Prevention of and Response to Sexual Abuse, Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment. 
   b. Code of Professional conduct for Church Personnel.
   c. Pamphlet on Reporting Suspected Abuse or Neglect of Minors or Vulnerable Adults
   d. Questions and Answers on Archdiocesan Background Check Program.
   e. Background Check Program Questions and Answers for Volunteers.
   

   The receipt will be kept on file with their background check authorization form by the administrative assistant of the parish. 

3. Each volunteer minister will attend training as required by the Archdiocese.  Trainings are scheduled on a regular basis.  Staff will give a list of those in their programs who have attended these trainings to the administrative assistant so their attendance can be recorded on the database. 
4. To register for training, please contact the Archdiocese of Seattle at 1-800-261-4749 or sep@seattlearch.org or visit the website at www.seattlearch.org.