Safeguard the Children

“Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” —Psalm 127:3

About Safeguard the Children
Safeguard the Children is a comprehensive program designed to promote a safe environment for children, youth and vulnerable adults and prevent child sexual abuse. The program was initiated in all dioceses in the United States at the direction of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). There is a Safeguard the Children Committee in each parish which helps to implement the objectives of the USCCB “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People”. The Los Angeles Archdiocese has produced an informative brochure entitled “Working Together” that provides resources on how to prevent abuse and provides information on reporting child abuse.

About the Safeguard the Children Committee

“Each parish/school site in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles is mandated to have a Safeguard the Children Committee.
This is not optional.” (September, 2002)

The Safeguard the Children Committee plays a crucial role in assuring that the safeguard initiatives found in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People are a priority. The committee oversees implementation of the Archdiocesan policies and procedures at the location, supports safe environment programs and resources, promotes parish and school site safety, reviews safe environment programs and events at parishes and schools, assists in the annual United States Conference of Catholic Bishops safe environment audit process, and promotes awareness of April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Please click to access the Official Charter Document from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

St. Rita Catholic Parish’s Safeguard the Children Committee 
The St. Rita Committee consists of caring adults from both the parish and school working together to surround our children and young people with circle a of safety by insuring that the safe environment programs, policies and procedures are being implemented in our parish, school and local community. Members include the Pastor, Parish Administrator, School Principal, Director of Faith Formation, Director of Operations, School Administrator, PTO President, Parents, Facilitators and members of the Parish Safety Committee. Meetings are held semi-annually or more often as needed.

The mission of the St. Rita Safeguard the Children Committee is to create a safe environment for children, the youth and vulnerable adults.

The Committee helps to ensure that:

• All adults who work or volunteer, with or around children, have attended the VIRTUS® Adult Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs.
• Children and young people are provided training to help them know how to respect their bodies, trust their protective instincts and learn when and how to seek adult help.

• Reviews any safety issues that may arise and establish monitoring policies and procedures for addressing them.
• Provides parish-wide education during Child Abuse Prevention Month (April)
• Ensures that the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’ policies and procedures are met and that accurate records are being kept on site or recorded on VPIN (Volunteer and Personnel Information Network).

Each parent and any school volunteer (step-parent, legal guardian, grandparent, family member 18+, caregiver, etc.) must be in full compliance before volunteering for or supervising children in any capacity at any school or church events/activities; such as Harvest Festival or any fundraising activities, driving students to a field trip, carline duty, coaching, etc. or any parish program where an individual will be volunteering with or around children. In addition, all St. Rita School students and all Faith Formation students, regardless of level, will take part annually in the “Teaching Touching Safety” or other approved safe environment education program.

Requirements for Clergy, Parish and School Staff, Parents, Caregivers, and Volunteers
In accord with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, St. Rita Catholic Parish leadership and the Safeguard the Children Committee have developed the following policies for all volunteers at the parish and school:

1. All volunteers who work with or around children in any way are required to attend a VIRTUS® session, “Protecting God’s Children” adult awareness training session. Please call the school office or parish to check availability and sign up for the appropriate VIRTUS® session.
2. Anyone who supervises or is perceived to supervise children in any way is required to submit to a background check in the form of fingerprinting by the Los Angeles Archdiocese. Sign up for free archdiocesan LiveScan fingerprinting or sources for local LiveScan locations. To have your fingerprinting done at one of the LiveScan locations, please print this LIVE SCAN Request form, and take it with you to your appointment. Please call the school office for more information.

Upon completion of VIRTUS® training and fingerprinting, your “Protecting God’s Children” training is good for four years from the date on your certificate. To keep current with your certification, you must:

• Register online at www.virtus.org and complete the monthly bulletin questions which are required to keep your training status in good standing.
• Submit a copy of your certificate to the parish or school either in person or via email.
• Keep your original and be mindful of your expiration date.

• If you have kept up with your VIRTUS® monthly bulletins, you can apply for Option #3 Recertification by emailing [email protected] with your name, parish and region (San Gabriel Region).
• If your account is current, you will receive a renewal certificate.
• If you allow your VIRTUS® certificate to expire, you must retake the “Protecting God’s Children” session.