Safe Environment
All children, young people, and vulnerable adults have the right to be safe and protected from harm in all environments. Blessed Sacrament Church follows all policies set forth by the Diocese of Syracuse that embraces this right and promotes that protection by taking steps to create safe environments to prevent the sexual abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. We continue to take steps to create safe environments through continued education, building awareness, and maintaining a commitment to keeping all children, young people, and vulnerable adults safe.
To learn more about the Diocese of Syracuse Safe Environment program, please visit their website: https://syracusediocese.org/safe-environment/
Safe Environment Training
All diocesan, parish, and school employees and volunteers working with children, young people, or vulnerable adults must attend initial safe environment training, and subsequent re-certification every five (5) years. Blessed Sacrament occasionally hosts sessions of each training for convenience of staff and parishioners. Check the registration schedule to find a time and location that is convenient for you. If you have any questions, contact Donna Hurn, Safe Environment Coordinator at Blessed Sacrament Church, Syracuse.
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Initial Training
"Protecting God's Children (PGC)"
Pre-registration is required. A schedule of classes may be found here.
Who must train?
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All clergy
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All members of religious orders
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All parish and diocesan employees, including those who have no contact with
children
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All volunteers whose ministry or role places them in regular contact with children,
young people, or vulnerable adults
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Completion of a first-time Safe Environment PGC training session is required within 60 days of assumption of duties, employment, or volunteering per diocesan policy. To complete the screening, participants must pass a criminal background check.
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Re-certification Training
"Entrusted to Protect, Dedicated to Restore"
Pre-registration is required. A schedule of classes may be found here.
The diocesan Child and Youth Protection Policy requires Safe Environment re-certification training (1.5-hour session) every five (5) years for:
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All clergy
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All members of religious orders
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All parish and diocesan employees, including those who have no contact with
children
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All volunteers whose ministry or role places them in regular contact with children,
young people, or vulnerable adults
In addition to the re-certification session, all participants must pass a new criminal
background check in order to complete their Safe Environment re-certification screening.
Training for Children and Youth
Circles of Care is a new educational program tailored to parish catechetical programs. This curriculum originally developed by the Diocese of Manchester has been adapted by the Diocese of Syracuse to address age-appropriate personal safety issues for children and youth in the context of Catholic moral teaching and is provided within the class program discussions.
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CONTACT:
Safe Environment Diocese of Syracuse
240 East Onondaga Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
T: (315) 470-1421
F: (315) 478-4619
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Donna Hurn
Blessed Sacrament Church
Safe Environment Site Coordinator
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