Safe Environment

Purpose and Mission:

As part of its ongoing response to the crisis, the Diocese of Orange:

Has established a written code of conduct for employees and volunteers who work with children and youth as outlined in:
- The Policy Against Sexual Misconduct for Lay Employees and Volunteers
- The Policy Against Sexual Misconduct for Clergy and Religious Personnel
- The brochure Respecting the Boundaries: Keeping Ministerial Relationships Healthy and Holy.
Provides training programs (workshops and in-services) for all adults who work with minors: priests, ministers, educators, church personnel, parents and volunteers. The aim is to educate them on preventing, identifying, responding and reporting child abuse. It also provides resources on the diocesan website www.rcbo.org.
Has established an ongoing training program, Kids and Company: Safety Education Program from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, for all children of elementary school age.
Developed criteria for Catholic high school safe environment curricula; produced an interactive DVD, Breaking the Silence, for teens, discussing the issue of the sexual abuse of minors. The DVD is being used in high school classrooms and youth groups throughout the diocese.
Conducts Background checks on all adults who have regular and consistent contact with minors.
Mandates that all clergy, religious and lay employees in parishes, schools and youth ministry be fingerprinted through the California Department of Justice and the FBI.
Pledges to incorporate safe environment programs into the ongoing mission of the Church by establishing the office of a Safe Environment Coordinator for the diocese.

Department Information:
Diocese of Orange
Safe Environment

Coordinator:
Norma Aguero
naguero(at)rcbo.org?subject=E-mail:">E-mail:

Basic Safety Rules for Children

Check First: Children should always check first with the adult in charge before doing anything, going anywhere or making any change in plans. This rule properly puts decision-making responsibility on adult caregivers.

Go With Friends: Children are safer when they are not alone, and generally have more fun as well.

It's My Body: This message empowers children to set personal limits. They learn that no one has the right to touch the parts of their body that are covered by a bathing suit, except parents when they are helping them bathe, or a doctor or nurse when they are sick. They have the right to resist inappropriate touching.

Tell A Trusted Adult: Children should be encouraged to ask a trusted adult for help anytime they feel threatened. Some examples of trusted adults could be mothers with children and store clerks with a name badge.

Adapted from:
"KIDS AND COMPANY: Safety Education Program"
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
www.missingkids.org

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Deanery Sites and Dates for Fingerprinting