Policies

All new volunteers and employees should follow the SafeParish registration instructions for creating

a SafeParish account. During the registration process, new volunteers and employees will be invited

to complete their background check and child protection training online. New employees will also

need to complete manual fingerprinting and submit a B4 form for approval.


https://www.aocsafeenvironment.org/ 


Weekly Emails - Each Tuesday, SafeParish sends an email regarding the updated child protection and

workplace safety articles that are posted on the SafeParish website. These articles are NOT required

but are recommended reading.


Weekly Emails - Each Tuesday, SafeParish sends an email regarding the updated child protection and

workplace safety articles that are posted on the SafeParish website. These articles are NOT required

but are recommended reading.


Quarterly Bulletins - The first bulletin should be issued around September 1. Emails will come from

SafeParish notifying users of the quarterly training which will also appear in their account under

training that is due. Users can check for training that is due after logging into their SafeParish account

by going to the Training Tab and clicking on the ‘Due’ link to see which bulletins are due and their due

date.


ALL teachers, cafeteria/playground workers, coaches, volunteers, staff members, priests and deacons, Mass Coordinators, Scout Leaders and Maintenance employees MUST remain in compliance of the decree. 



The Archdiocese of Cincinnati and St. Anthony requires all adult volunteers 18 and older, out of high school, who intend to work or volunteer with children to complete Safe Parish. Volunteers must complete a background check, receive training, and complete ongoing continuing education.

The Safe Parish program educates and trains adults (clergy, religious, teachers, staff, volunteers, parents) about the dangers of abuse, the warning signs of abuse, ways to prevent abuse, methods of properly reporting suspicions of abuse, and responding to allegations of abuse.

No individual, organization, or ministry is exempt from being certified.

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati implemented its initial Child Protection Decree in 1993. Every 5 years, this Decree has been revised and promulgated to the clerics, employees and volunteers of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, its parishes and institutions.

In 2011, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) conducted an audit of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Child Protection Awareness process and recommended that it adopt a nationally recognized program for child protection. The Archdiocese chose The National Catholic Retention Group, Inc. program entitled VIRTUS(R). Cincinnati became the 129th diocese in the U.S. to use the VIRTUS(R) program.

Safe Parish is a brand name that identifies best practices programs designed to help prevent wrongdoing and promote “right-doing” within religious organizations. The VIRTUS(R) programs empower organizations and people to better protect our children from abuse in our homes, parishes, and communities.