Mission: As Christian adults, we have a moral and legal responsibility and are entrusted by God with the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of minors and vulnerable adults. As they participate in activities within or sponsored by our diocese, it is our commitment to provide an environment which is safe and nurturing. Therefore, the mission of the Safe Environment Program is:

• To provide education for all employees (clergy, religious and laity), those volunteers and others regularly involved with minors, and parents, as to the issue of abuse of children including the detection, prevention and reporting of child abuse.
• To provide training programs for children and young people in our Catholic schools. This includes age appropriate materials pertaining to personal safety and information about improper touching and relationships. Children in our religious education programs receive personal safety training as part of their regular public school curriculum as mandated by the State of Florida so additional training by the diocese is not required. Children are not expected to be fully knowledgeable about child abuse or of the laws governing care of children but they need to know when they should seek assistance from a trusted adult.
• To thoroughly screen and evaluate the background of all diocesan employees - clergy, religious and laity - and those volunteers who work with children and young people.
• To hold those who minister in the name of the Church of Venice - all diocesan employees (clergy, religious and laity) and those volunteers who work with children and young people - to Christ-centered and professional codes of conduct.

• Investigar y evaluar a fondo los antecedentes de todos los empleados/as diocesanos - clero, religiosos/as y laicado - y aquellos/as voluntarios/as que trabajan con menores y jóvenes.
• Mantener a aquellos que son ministros en el nombre de la Iglesia de Venece – todos los empleados/as diocesanos (clero, religiosos/as y laicado) y aquellos/as voluntarios/as que trabajan con menores y jóvenes – centrados en Cristo y en los códigos profesionales de conducta.
• Proporcionar educación para todos los empleados/as (clero, religiosos/as y laicado), aquellos/as voluntarios/as y otros envueltos regularmente con menores, y los padres, en cuanto al tema del abuso de menores incluyendo la detención, la prevención y el informe de abuso del menor.
• Proporcionar programas de capacitación para menores y jóvenes en nuestras escuelas Católicas. Esto incluye materiales apropiados a la edad, relacionados a la seguridad personal e información acerca de contacto impropio y relaciones. Los menores en nuestros programas de educación religiosa reciben entrenamiento de seguridad personal como parte de su plan regular de la escuela pública según lo asignado por mandato por el Estado de la Florida, así que, el entrenamiento adicional por la diócesis no es requerido. No se espera que los niños estén completamente informados sobre el abuso del menor o de las leyes que gobiernan el cuidado de menores, pero ellos necesitan saber cuándo deben buscar ayuda de un adulto de confianza.

Dr. Kathy Kleinlein, Dir. of Safe Environment Awareness Training and Certification
Mr. Arthur J. Fleischer, Dir. of Human Resources

Links:

Training Schedule