Safe Environment/Volunteers

ST. MAXIMILIAN KOLBE CLEARANCE PROCEDURES
Required Background Checks for All School/Parish Volunteers:
 

1. PA Department of Public Welfare Child Abuse Clearance:  Can be obtained online at https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS  Individuals should go to the website and create an account.  Once an account is created and an application is made online, applicants will have immediate access to the results or the status of their results if they could be processed immediately.  Applicants must be sure to complete the application fully – past addresses and past household members including parents and siblings since 1975. Applicants will be able to save and forward results via email.   Effective July 25, 2015 there will be no fee for volunteers working with children.  Renewal is required every 5 years.

 

2. PA State Police Criminal Record Check:  Can be obtained by the office online with results available within a few minutes. Personal Information can be given to the office to obtain this clearance.  Effective July 25, 2015 there will be no fee for volunteers working with children.  Renewal is required every 5 years. 

 

3. Federal Criminal Background Check (FBI Fingerprint):  A Federal Background Check is required for all volunteers who do not live in PA or have lived outside of PA during the past 10 years.  Information is available online at  https://uenroll.identogo.com/.   When you register on that site, there is a “Locations Services” drop down to find the vendor that is most convenient for your use.  Use code 1KG6Y3 for volunteers.     For those living in PA for 10 continuous years, a Disclosure Form must be signed and kept in our files. Renewal (of FBI check or Disclosure Form) is required every 5 years.

 
**Numbers 1, 2, 3, MUST BE COMPLETE before you can begin to volunteer.**
 

4. Safe Environment Training – “Protecting God’s Children”:  Attendance of this class must be completed within 90 days of the start of service. To view a list of dates and locations and to register for a training class, please go to http://www.virtus.org    After completion, please submit to the office the 5”x8”copy of your “Standards for Ministerial Behavior” and “Technology Addendum” form received at the training site. This is a one-time training session.  If you had completed the Virtus Safe Environment Training, “Protecting God’s Children”, prior to July 1, 2011, you must complete the online training session regarding the use of Technology.            

The Technology Addendum can be accessed online at http://childyouthprotection.org/index.php/staff-volunteers/required-training
 
 

5. Mandated Reporter Training: Please go to  https://learning.childyouthprotection.org/login/index.php 

to register and complete this online training .  The training is presented in three modules, which in total will take approximately one hour. Please download a copy of your certificate of completion and forward to struitt@stmax.org for school volunteers and saintmax@comcast.net for parish volunteers.  This is a one-time training session. In addition, a Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement Form (since 12-2014) MUST be signed and on file for all volunteers.
 

6. Coaches Orientation Session:  All Coaches of CYO sanctioned sports must also attend a Coaches Orientation Session which is hosted at various times during the year.  Visit the parish website at www.stmax.org click on Ministries/CYO and click on the links for detailed information.  A copy of the certificate from the Orientation Session must be turned into the Rectory Office.  CYO Coaches, heads and assistants, must do this during their first year of coaching. This is a one-time training session.

 
Important: If an employee/volunteer is arrested or convicted of an offense that would constitute grounds for denying participation in a program, activity or service under the Child Protective Services Law, he/she must provide St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish written notice no later than 72 hours after the arrest, conviction or notification.  Failure to disclose this information is a misdemeanor of the third degree and shall be subject to discipline up to and including denial of a volunteer position.
 
Please note: If you have any of these clearances from an Archdiocesan entity and the clearances are less than three years old, please bring the original to the office and we will make copies for our records. Additional information is available at www.childyouthprotection.org  by clicking on the link – Victims Assistance and Safe Environment. Please be in touch with the School Office (610-399-8400) or Parish Office (610-399-6936) if you have any questions regarding any of these training sessions. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and support of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish.                                                                
Updated August 12, 2019