St. Nicholas of Tolentine School

the United States Bishops called for the establishment of a

Safe Environment Program in every Diocese. My brother

Bishops and I reaffirmed our deep commitment to create

and maintain a safe environment for young people within

the Church.

I am pleased to report that, since 2003, the Archdiocese of

Philadelphia has trained more than 60,000 employees and

volunteers in child safety and the prevention of sexual

abuse. These 60,000 plus adults return to their parishes,

classrooms and places of service with sound knowledge to

foster a network of protection for our young people.

The Safe Environment Program is comprehensive, not only

educating and guiding adults, but also providing young

people with an age-appropriate, personal safety curriculum.

The Archdiocese provides this education to almost 120,000

young people every year in our schools and parish religious

education programs.

The Safe Environment Program also mandates background

checks and child abuse clearances for all adults working

with children and offers parents the resources to help them

guard the safety of their children.

In this brochure, you will find more detailed information

about the various programs and services offered through

the Safe Environment Program of the Archdiocese of

Philadelphia. The safety and well-being of our young

people is of the highest priority and I assure you of my

commitment to sustaining the efforts initiated through the

and guide us all in our efforts to protect and care for them.

Cardinal Justin Rigali

Archbishop of Philadelphia

must have current background checks. The Archdiocese of

children in any capacity, to have current criminal

background checks. For example, the Archdiocese goes

above and beyond the requirement of the law by

mandating that parish volunteers, CYO coaches, and

catechists have background checks.

• All priests and deacons, as well as teachers, parish staff

and volunteers who come into regular contact with

children must have a child abuse clearance and state

police background check on file at the parish or school.

Regular contact with children is defined by the

Archdiocese as contact which occurs during the course

of work or ministry at least one time per week.

• Anyone who lives or has lived outside of the state of

Pennsylvania within the past two years must also

provide a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

fingerprint check for criminal history clearance.

• Pastors may require background checks for other staff

and volunteers who have less than regular contact with

children in an effort to exceed guidelines and enhance

protection efforts.

more about the safe environment policies and

procedures of the Archdiocese.

• If someone new is working with your child in an

Archdiocesan program or parish activity, do not hesitate

to ask your Pastor, Principal or Director of Religious

Education if that person has the required background

checks on file.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia mandates that all priests

and deacons, as well as parish staff, teachers, employees,

and volunteers who work with children must complete Safe

Environment Training in addition to having current

background checks on file. The training program used by

the Archdiocese was developed by a national team of

experts with decades of experience in sexual abuse

identification and prevention. For more information about

the program visit www.virtus.org.

Safe Environment training sessions occur periodically

throughout the year in all areas of the Archdiocese of

Philadelphia to accommodate new employees and

volunteers and ensure that they complete this critical

program.

This 2.5 hour training utilizes group discussion, videos and

course materials and includes topics such as:

• The prevalence of child sexual abuse in the

United States

• How perpetrators gain access to children

• Examples of inappropriate behavior with children

•Warning signs of abuse

• The experience of child sexual abuse victims

• How adults model appropriate behavior with children

• Characteristics of safe relationships between adults

and children

There are now more than 100 facilitators throughout the

Archdiocese of Philadelphia who are trained to provide

sessions in parishes in order to meet the widespread need

for this mandated educational curriculum.

For more information about scheduled sessions, or to

become a facilitator, visit the Office for Child and Youth

Protection website at www.archphila.org/protection.

Parents are the first and most influential teachers of children

and are responsible for their spiritual, moral, emotional,

physical, and intellectual development. This is an awesome

and sometimes daunting responsibility. When armed with

proper information, parents can best protect their children

from predators.

The Office for Child and Youth Protection offers extensive

resources for parents on its web site. Find the information

at www.archphila.org/protection/Resources/res_main.htm

The Archdiocese also offers two educational programs

designed specifically for parents regarding the prevention

of child sexual abuse. Two video presentations are available

to parishes or groups by request:

This video is a resource for parents of young children,

ages two through seven. It provides safety information

that parents need to share with their young children and

offers examples of teachable moments.

This video is for parents of pre-adolescents, ages eight

through thirteen. The video addresses the behavior of

child molesters and shows how they violate the physical,

emotional, and behavioral boundaries of children. Parents

are given real-life examples of the actions of predators

and how those actions violate boundaries and place

children at risk.

Virtus is a nationally recognized organization that created

used in this Archdiocese. Virtus also offers a comprehensive

program for the protection of children. Information

concerning the prevention of child sexual abuse and other

child safety issues is available on the Virtus website

(www.virtus.org) This webpage offers timely and focused

articles on how caring adults can work together to keep

children safe.

Parents and guardians can also receive free bi-weekly safety

bulletins that cover a variety of topics. To sign up, please

send an e-mail to philavac@adphila.org or call the Safe

Environment Office at 215-587-2466.

Young people enrolled in all Archdiocesan high schools, parish

and regional elementary schools, schools of special education

and parish religious education programs receive safe

environment education. Each year, the Archdiocese of

Philadelphia offers these lessons to almost 120,000 young people.

The programs taught to children in the Archdiocese of

Philadelphia are age-appropriate and ongoing. Parents will

always receive advance notice of the presentation and be

given the opportunity to remove a child from the lesson. It

is the hope, however, that all children throughout the

Archdiocese will have the opportunity to be educated on

these serious topics.

appropriateness of good boundaries, safe and unsafe

touch, and the importance of telling an adult if someone

is making the child uncomfortable. All of this material is

delivered in an age-appropriate curriculum. This

curriculum is utilized in all Archdiocese of Philadelphia

parish elementary schools, special education schools and

religious education programs. Additional information,

including lesson plans, is available at

www.catholicschoolsphl.

org/parents/safeenvironment.htm.

This video offers information about three types of

boundaries that child molesters will attempt to violate–

physical, emotional, and behavioral. Students learn to

define and identify the three types of boundaries, are

given examples of how predators try to violate their

boundaries, and are reminded that most adults in their

lives care about them and want the best for them.

program, built around a 20-minute video presentation

produced by the Archdiocese, looks at the issue of sexual

violence in the context of Catholic moral teaching. The

Archdiocese forged a partnership with area law

enforcement and victim assistance experts to focus the

program’s message on the following themes:

(1) sexual violence is a crime;

(2) sexual violence is never the fault of the victim but

always the fault of the offender; and

(3) the victim’s value as a person is never diminished in

the eyes of God.

The use of technology can enhance our efforts to ensure a

quality faith based academic education where our children

are instilled with Catholic values. Technology also serves to

bring the world at large to children in their homes and

classrooms.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia utilizes a nationally

recognized program, NetSmartz Internet Safety from the

National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, to

educate every student enrolled in our schools. Students

who participate in Internet safety programs report both

increased awareness of Internet dangers and safer online

practices.

• Research, research, research! Parents who research

Internet safety issues and educate themselves ensure a

much safer online experience for their child.

• Engage your child in discussions about Internet safety,

providing examples of the dangers that exist online. For

instance, many teenagers share personal and private

information online and readily communicate with

people they don’t know. These practices can naturally

make them more susceptible to predators. Encourage

your child to think carefully before posting any

information online.

• Be aware that your child can go online without your

knowledge from many locations outside of his/her

school and your home.

• Establish rules for use of the computer and guidelines

for how young people are to respect themselves and

others while they are online.

• Encourage your child to talk with you about anything

that makes them uncomfortable while they are

communicating online.

Technology and the Internet will continue to play an

increasing role in all of our lives. Safe and ethical use is the

goal for all children. This information is shared to help you

guide your child in using the Internet in a positive way that

reflects Catholic teachings. For more information and

additional Internet safety links, visit

www.catholicschools-phil.org/schools/Technology.htm

or www.cybertipline.com.

Statistics show that one in five girls and one in ten boys will

be sexually abused in their lifetime. Sexual violence may be

in the form of a physical sexual assault, but also includes

peeping, exposing a child to pornography, and sexual

harassment.

• Recurring nightmares

• Insomnia or increased sleeping

• Sudden regressive behavior

• Fear of the dark

•Withdrawal from others

• Aggressive behavior

• Change in performance at school

• Loss of self esteem

• Poor self image

• Deteriorating peer relationships (loss of interest in

friends)

• Loss of interest in enjoyable activities

If your child exhibits one or more of these behaviors, it does

not necessarily mean he/she has been sexually abused.

Parents who wish to discuss concerns, fears and ways to talk

to their child are encouraged to call the Archdiocesan Victim

Assistance Program at 1-888-800-8780.

• Looking for ways to spend time alone with children

• Attempting to get a child or adolescent to do things

that parents would not approve of (i.e. drinking alcohol,

smoking, viewing sexually explicit materials)

• Offering gifts, money or special attention to one child

• Asking a child to keep secrets

If your child has been sexually abused, your response as a

parent will impact his or her ability to recover. The most

important issue to address is his or her physical and

emotional well-being. Medical attention and a report to

child protective services are critical to ensure the safety of

your child. Call local law enforcement authorities, the

statewide abuse hotline (1-800-932-0313), and your child’s

pediatrician if you have reason to believe your child has

been sexually abused. It is also important to seek

professional help from counselors who are experts in

working with sexually-abused children.

• Believe your child.

• Make sure your child knows that you do not blame him

or her for anything.

• Remain calm. A child can interpret your anxiety to mean

that they should not have told you.

• Let your child talk.

• Listen for as long as it takes – and it may take quite a

deal of listening.

All Archdiocesan employees and volunteers who work with

children are mandated reporters of child abuse under the

law in Pennsylvania. Your child may tell a teacher, coach,

volunteer, catechist, pastor, or principal that they have been

harmed or know of another child who has been abused.

In all cases, the law and the policy of the Archdiocese of

Philadelphia mandate that the following steps are to be

taken immediately:

• The person in charge of the institution or parish must

be notified.

• Child Line (the statewide child abuse hotline) must be

called at 1-800-932-0313 to make a formal report.

• The Office of Child and Youth Protection in the

Archdiocese of Philadelphia must be notified at 1-888-

800-8780.

•When allegations are against an employee or volunteer

of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, local law

enforcement authorities are notified.

The person making the report only has to have a reasonable

cause to suspect child abuse. It is not his or her job to

investigate the report, only to inform the proper authorities.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia provides comprehensive

Safe Environment Training for clergy, employees, and

volunteers, as well as parents and children. Expert staff is

also available to answer parents’ questions about

background checks, training opportunities, mandated

reporting policy or simply how to discuss the subject with

your child. The Safe Environment Program also is pleased to

offer speakers for groups. Call 215-587-2466 or visit the

Office of Child and Youth Protection web site at

www.archphila.org/protection/index.htm

are able to assist if you suspect your child or another child

has been sexually abused. Victim Assistance Coordinators

provide support and guidance regarding how to talk to your

child and what resources are available for trained

therapeutic intervention. Counselors or coordinators will

walk you through the steps of making a formal report and

complaint. Contact the Victim Assistance Program toll free at

1-888-800-8780 or write to philavac@adphila.org.

SAFE Program of Catholic Social Services offers therapy or

referrals for children and adolescents who have been

sexually abused. Contact the SAFE Program at 215-587-

3900.

Education provides students from Pre-K through 12th grade

with safe environment education programs. These lessons

are offered to students enrolled in parish and regional

elementary schools, parish programs of religious education,

schools of special education, and Archdiocesan high

schools. For a complete listing of lesson plans, please go to

www.catholicschools-phl.org.

all Archdiocesan schools. Information on these programs

can be found on the Office of Catholic Education website at:

www.catholicschools-phl.org/schools/Technology.htm.

Protecting God’s Children Awareness Program for Adults,

used in the training of adults in this Archdiocese. Virtus

offers a comprehensive program for the protection of

children. Information concerning the prevention of child

sexual abuse and other child safety issues is available on the

Virtus website (www.virtus.org) This webpage offers timely

and focused articles on how caring adults can work

together to keep children safe.