The Archdiocesan Decree on Child Protection  

SafeParish is the training model used in conjunction with the Decree on Child Protection of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Anyone having contact with children as a volunteer or Archdiocese employee must be trained in the Decree. All other Catholics of the Archdiocese are urged to be familiar with its contents as well.  

To gain approval for volunteering or working with children there are requirements that must be met before approval will be granted:

SafeParish Resources

Background and Fingerprinting Resources

SafeParish™ is a learning management platform that provides a broad array of training, education, information, and programs for Catholic organizations. It is a child and workplace-safe environment program specifically designed for Catholic entities. The technological core of SafeParish™ is McCalmon’s proprietary learning management software. McCalmon has more than 100 learning management platforms built from that core. McCalmon also supplies most of the content. McCalmon’s experts research, write, edit, and publish blogs, articles, podcasts, videos, and alerts on SafeParish™. 

1. The SafeParish™ edition of Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse is a fresh, innovative on-demand child safety training program for the prevention of child sexual abuse that incorporates video, interactive elements, testing, and reporting functions.  SafeParish™ educates adults who work with or around children on the vigilance and steps necessary to protect children from child sexual abuse. Trainees learn how to be safe adults—vigilant, educated people who protect children and young people by building a culture of safety.

   Every person in a position that requires contact or interaction with youth or vulnerable adults must complete the SafeParish™ edition of Protecting Children from Sexual Abuse training session before they are permitted to work or volunteer within any of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati parishes, schools, or institutions. No one under the age of 18 is permitted to complete the training.  

   In addition to completing the training, employees, and volunteers must stay current in completing their interactive video-based SafeParish™ quarterly bulletins on Child Protection in order to remain in compliance with the requirements of the Decree on Child Protection. Non-compliance will result in SafeParish™ account non-approval and non-compliant employees and volunteers will no longer be permitted to work with youth or vulnerable adults until compliance is reestablished. Please contact your local safe environment coordinator with questions regarding your SafeParish™ account or if your account is non-approved due to non-compliance with the decree.

   While completing the SafeParish: Protecting Children From Sexual Abuse – Arch. of Cincinnati Edition Trainees will learn:

   The risk of child sexual abuse The definition of child sexual abuse What acts are considered child sexual abuse Who are the targets of child sexual abuse The truths and myths surrounding child sexual abuse The harms of child sexual abuse The barriers to victims reporting child sexual abuse How to recognize the physical and behavioral signs of child sexual abuse Who are mandatory reporters and why all adults should report their reasonable concerns and suspicions about child sexual abuse

   Who commits child sexual abuse Signs offenders may display that safe adults can recognize How alcohol, drugs, pornography, and improper online relationships are used to commit the crime of child sexual abuse How perpetrators groom targets, caretakers, families, parishes, and communities in order to violate boundaries with children Appropriate and inappropriate interactions with children, in-person and online How to create and maintain a physical space safe for children What to do if child sexual abuse is witnessed or reported to you How to report concerns about child sexual abuse

   Risks and Subjects Covered:

2. What constitutes child sexual abuse: including legal definitions, as well as the physical and behavioral signs of child sexual abuse.
3. Child safety risks: the types of conduct that create unsafe child environments; children who perpetrators target; grooming techniques of perpetrators, including the use of alcohol, drugs, and pornography; violating boundaries, in-person and online; and the harm of child sexual abuse to victims, families, parishes, employers, and the community.
4. Risks of improper online behavior: including using the Internet to groom targets and the harms of child pornography.
5. Creating and maintaining child-safe environments: including following policies and procedures; online, physical, emotional, and communication boundaries with children; how to maintain a physically safe space for children; how to protect children outside the parish; and how to report child sexual abuse if suspected.

6. To access or register for your SafeParish account go to http://www.aocsafeenvironment.org. 

   Contact your local safe environment coordinator for the registration passcode or click here to access the SafeParish™ registration instructions.

If you have questions, please feel free to call Deacon George Bruce at the Parish Office.