Child and Youth Protection

All employees and volunteers, including catechists, who work with children are required to attend in person a Safe Environment Workshop approved by the Diocese of Raleigh AND undergo a criminal background check before they do so.

Participation in a similar workshop provided by any other Catholic Diocese or any other organization is not recognized. These workshops will be offered periodically at St. Thomas More. See table for list of upcoming workshops. All will be held in the Friends and Family Hall. 

If people cannot attend a workshop at St. Thomas More, they may go to workshops in other parishes in the Diocese.

Certification is valid for five years, after which people must  take the Safe Environment Workshop again in person. Contact Claudina Loh  (919-942-6203) for details of renewal of certification.

If you cannot attend the Safe Environment Workshops hosted at St. Thomas More, please see Diocesan Calendar of Safe Environment Workshops at other parishes.
 

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.

Following the scandalous revelations of abuse of children and youth by some clergy and church workers in recent years, all Catholic Dioceses have made great efforts to ensure safety and security for all children and youth while in the care of Church personnel. St. Thomas More Parish abides by the Diocese of Raleigh's full Child and Youth Protection policies:

• Vatican Web Site - Abuse of Minors: The Church's Response 
• Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
• Policies and Procedures for the Protection of Young People
• Code of Conduct for Church Personnel in the Diocese of Raleigh
• Report Suspected Abuse
• Ten Points for Protecting Children - from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
• What Happens if a Priest is Accused of Abuse?
• 2013 Report on the Implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
• 'Prevent Child Abuse Month' Resources

Therefore we require that all employees and volunteers, including catechists, and anyone who will ever be alone with children attend a Safe Environment workshop AND undergo a criminal background check before they begin their work, and all parents and other people sign a “Personal Information Sheet” declaring that they have never been accused or convicted of child abuse. All parents will be asked to sign this 'yellow form' when registering their children. All catechists also have to participate in some training in Child and Youth Protection. Anyone who refuses to do this will not be permitted to be on the premises when children are present. We also expect all catechists 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.

Catechists will assure children from time to time that their safety and security is very important, and the children are encouraged to confide in a trusted adult is somebody makes them feel unsafe.