• Complete the Volunteer Application.
• Sign the Volunteer Code of Conduct.
• Attend a three-hour interactive session that details the importance of keeping our children safe through awareness and vigilance (see below for details).
• Provide a current BCI&I (and FBI if applicable) criminal background check (fingerprinting) **and** SELECTiON.COM Fastrax® online background report. (When you register for a training session, you will be prompted to complete the SELECTiON.COM Fastrax® portion of the background requirements.)

 

PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAINING

To register for a training session within the Diocese of Columbus, visit the VIRTUS WEBSITE. Click on "First-time Registrant" from the homepage sidebar menu and then select "Columbus, OH Diocese" from the drop-down menu. You will be prompted through the rest of the registration process.

 

WHO IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND A PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAINING SESSION?

• All parish, school, and diocesan employees, regardless of their level of contact with children.
• All clergy and applicants to clerical formation who serve in the Diocese.
• All volunteers in the school, all coaches, all Boy Scout and Cub Scout volunteers, volunteers working in a school program, or volunteers working in ministry for children and youth, regardless of their level of contact with children.
• Volunteers for other parish programs or ministries who have been delegated care, custody, or control of children.

 

WHO MUST HAVE A BACKGROUND CHECK?

• All parish, school, and diocesan employees, regardless of their level of contact with children.
• All clergy and applicants to clerical formation who serve in the Diocese.
• All volunteers in the school, all coaches, all Boy Scout and Cub Scout volunteers, volunteers working in a school program, or volunteers working in ministry for children and youth, regardless of their level of contact with children.
• Volunteers for other parish programs or ministries who have been delegated care, custody, or control of children.

 

HOW TO COMPLETE THE FINGERPRINTING PROCESS

You can schedule a fingerprinting appointment by visiting the FAST FINGERPRINTS WEBSITE. When scheduling your appointment, CLICK HERE or refer to the following information:

• Select “I HAVE A CODE” (this is provided by the Diocese of Columbus)
• Volunteers should enter IGHWKX
• You will be prompted through the rest of the registration process.
• You need BCI only if you've lived in Ohio more than five years. You need a BCI and FBI if you have lived in Ohio for five years or less.
• If you are an employee or clergy member. Refer to this REGISTRATION FORM for all access codes.

Fast Fingerprints is located at 1486 Bethel Road, Columbus, Ohio 43220. The cost is $37 for BCI only or $72 for BCI and FBI. Results are sent electronically to the Diocese of Columbus and then to St. Andrew Parish. Email Safe Environment Coordinator Mary Beasecker to confirm your results.

You must provide a valid ID, such as a driver’s license, Passport, or State ID, at the time of fingerprinting.

Once your prints are scanned, they will be sent to the BCI, which will process the prints and send a report to the Diocese of Columbus Safe Environment Office. The Diocese of Columbus will then notify St. Andrew of the results of the background report. Background report processing times can range from a few days to 30 days.

 

SECURELY MAINTAINING YOUR RECORDS

The Diocese of Columbus Safe Environment Program is the central repository for your Protecting God's Children class verification, and all background checks for state (BCI&I) and Federal (FBI) reports. All background reports are sent directly from the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I) directory to the Diocese of Columbus Safe Environment Program office. St. Andrew Parish IS NOT permitted to accept background reports or copies of reports from parishes, schools, agencies, or individuals. This information is then made available to the individual parishes. Please note that the Diocese and our parish treat criminal background reports confidentially.

Individuals with no break in volunteer service and transferring between diocesan parishes can request that their information is transferred to St. Andrew Parish. If you have a break in service to the parish or diocese of longer than 18 months, you will be required to complete the background check process again.

 

REPORTING ABUSE

Sexual abuse by a priest, deacon, staff member, or volunteer in the Diocese of Columbus should be reported to the Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator, 614-224-2251, 866-448-0217, or at helpisavailable@columbuscatholic.org.   If you are the victim of sexual abuse (or any other crime), please contact local law enforcement immediately.

To learn more about the prevention of child sexual abuse, please refer to www.virtus.org and sign up for their training bulletins and/or view their continuing education articles.

 

WOULD YOU LIKE MORE INFORMATION ABOUT KEEPING OUR CHILDREN SAFE?

• CLICK HERE to visit the Diocese of Columbus Protecting Our Children web page, which provides a host of resources and additional information.
• Visit www.virtusonline.org for educational resources and material about keeping our children safe.

• ST. ANDREW PARISH SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY STATEMENT
  •Includes two-deep policy and social media guidelines

• DIOCESE OF COLUMBUS SAFE ENVIRONMENT MANUAL (to come)

• OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY LETTER (to come)

 

NEED TO CONFIDE IN SOMEONE? NEED TO REPORT WARNING SIGNS?

Contact one of the following confidential sources:

Meredith Gaul
Coordinator, Safe Environment Office
614-241-2568
mgaul@columbuscatholic.org

Laura J. Lewis, M.A., L.P.C.C.-S
Diocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator
866-448-0217
llewis@columbuscatholic.org
helpisavailable@columbuscatholic.org