Child and Youth Protection

Everything we do as a Church must reflect our commitment to respect life in all situations by providing a secure sacred space that safeguards and promotes human dignity, by fostering the development of each individual, and by creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all who come to us seeking an experience of the Holy presence of God.

The Safe Environment Program of the Diocese of Raleigh and at the community of St Thomas More strives to empower parishes, schools, families, and individuals to create and foster safe and healthy environments for children and youth in all aspects of their lives.

All employees, volunteers, catechists and users of our spaces who work with youth and children are required to attend in person a Safe Environment Workshop approved by the Diocese of Raleigh AND undergo a criminal background check AND personnel reference checks before beginning to volunteer/work with youth and children.

All parents of children and parishioners at St Thomas More who do not volunteer with youth or children are also encouraged to attend this workshop (no background check or reference checks are required).

All parents who do not volunteer but have their children registered in programs held at St Thomas More will sign a 'Personal Information Sheet' provided by the director of the program declaring that they have never been accused or convicted of child abuse. Anyone who refuses to do so, will not be permitted to be on the premises when children are present. We also expect all catechists, volunteers, users of our spaces and staff to exercise vigilance and care at all times to ensure the children’s safety and security. We ask – and have received – full cooperation from parents in this essential matter.

The workshop is designed to recognize Child Abuse (Physicial abuse, Emotional Abuse and Sexual Abuse) and Neglect AND the proper protocols if you believe abuse or misconduct to have occurred.

Participation in a similar workshop provided by any other Catholic Diocese or any other organization is not recognized. These workshops will be offered periodically in English and Spanish at St. Thomas More. See Workshop Selection for dates of upcoming sessions. Workshops are held in the Friends and Family Hall unless noted below.

Child and Youth Protection Certification is valid for five years, after which time you must retake the Safe Environment Workshop. Contact Claudina Loh  (919-942-6203) for details of renewal of your certification. If you cannot attend a workshop at St. Thomas More, they may attend a workshops in other parishes within the Diocese.
 

To attend any one of the webinars hosted by the Diocese of Raleigh in place of the face to face Safe Environment Training Sessions, please register using the link below:

https://dioceseofraleigh.org/calendar?office=2249

If you cannot attend the Safe Environment Workshops at St. Thomas More, please see Diocesan Calendar for Safe Environment Workshops at other parishes. Please return your certificate of attendance and application form to Claudina Loh at St Thomas More parish office for processing.

Please download and print the Diocese of Raleigh Application for Volunteers form, and return it to Claudina Loh at the St. Thomas More Parish Office for processing.

Por favor, descarga y imprima el Verificación de Antecedentes y volver a Claudina Loh en la oficina de la parroquia para mas procesamiento.

 St. Thomas More Parish abides by the Diocese of Raleigh's full Child and Youth Protection policies. The links below contain additional information:

• Vatican Web Site - Abuse of Minors: The Church's Response 
• https://dioceseofraleigh.org/child-and-youth-protection/child-and-youth-protection
• Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
• Ten Points for Protecting Children - from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• FAQs on Child and Youth Protection
• https://www.preventchildabusenc.org/
• https://dioceseofraleigh.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/2019-Code-of-Conduct.pdf
• https://dioceseofraleigh.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/2019-Code-of-Conduct-Spanish.pdf
• https://dioceseofraleigh.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/promise-to-protect-update12-2019.pdf
• https://dioceseofraleigh.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/2019-12-promise-to-protect-spanish.pdf
• https://dioceseofraleigh.org/sites/default/files/inline-files/English-SpanishPositiveCommunication.pdf