SAFE ENVIRONMENT
For the protection of our youth, volunteers and programs, it is a requirement of the Archdiocese of Seattle that ALL parish and school volunteers (Head and Assistant Coaches) with potential for unsupervised contact with youth:
1) Complete and pass a background check PRIOR to contact with youth
2) Read, understand and sign the following polices within 3 days of contact with youth
a) Policy for Prevention of & Response to Sexual Abuse, Sexual Misconduct & Sexual Harassment
b) Code of Professional Conduct for Church Personnel
3) First year coaches are required to complete the year 1 training (Called to Protect, 3 hour course) within 90 days of contact. They can have no contact with youth after 90 days until completed.
4) Those that have coached and taken CTP or the online refresher in the previous year (2009-10) are required to complete an online training prior to May 31, 2011. There will be no contact allowed in following year (2011-12) until completed.
5) Volunteers of CYO Athletics should add “CYO Athletics” as one of their locations so that they will be able to take the specific online refresher.
If a coach from the previous year (2009-10) did not complete the required SEP training, they are not allowed to coach until they have done so. It is the responsibility of the parish/school to verify that coaches have completed the necessary training.
Non-Catholic schools are not required to participate in the same program but are expected to submit a signed agreement that indicates that they conduct background checks, safe environment training and have policies in place for the prevention of sexual abuse.
For more information on the Safe Environment program in the Archdiocese of Seattle or to register for training please go to the Safe Environment section on the archdiocesan website.