If you suspect abuse, your first call should be to civil authorities. Click here to find the child protection phone number in the county where the suspected abuse occurred/is occurring. If the child is in imminent danger, call 911.
Then, if the suspected abuse involves an employee or a volunteer at your parish or school, contact your pastor or school administrator as soon as possible.
If you need to contact the Archdiocese regarding suspected abuse, please call the Chancery at 651-291-4400; if the Chancery is closed or you cannot reach someone at that number, please call 651-291-4464.
Questions or concerns about safe environment policies at your parish or school?
Please email pcyi@archspm.org or call 651-290-1622.
MISSION
The Protection of Children and Youth Initiative of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis has one goal: shielding our children from abuse. The initiative has two components:
1. Requirements for clergy, teachers, volunteers and other adults who work with children
2. Age-appropriate, church-approved personal safety instruction for children in our Catholic schools, faith formation and youth ministry programs
PCYI FALL AUDIT REPORTS DUE 10/15/09
Fall Audit Reports will be mailed to parishes and schools the week of August 10, 2009. These reports must be completed and submitted to the PCYI office no later than 10/15/09.
Click here for a blank PCYI Fall Audit Report form for parishes.
Click here for a blank PCYI Fall Audit Report form for schools.
PCYI FALL NEWSLETTER NOW AVAILABLE!
Click here to find out more about bullying prevention and adapting the VIRTUS messages for those who work with vulnerable adults as well as links to new web resources.
CHANGE IN TEACHING HIRING PROCEDURE EFFECTIVE 5/1/09
Effective May 1, 2009, a new Minnesota law requires a school hiring authority to contact the Board of Teaching before hiring a new teacher to determine if disciplinary action has even been taken against the applicant's Minnesota teaching license. The Board of Teaching has developed an online search system for those hiring teachers to investigate whether such disciplinary action has been taken. This online system is called the Teacher Discipline Inquiry System (TDIS). Click here for more information.
PARENT GUIDES FOR NEW FAMILIES
Parish and school leaders, please make sure to give families new to faith formation programs or schools in the 2009-2010 program year a parent guide. As in years past, the Archdiocese's Protection of Children and Youth Initiative office will mail VIRTUS: Protecting God’s Children: A Guide for Parents, Guardians and Other Caring Adults to parish and school leaders to distribute to families who have not had a child enrolled in school or faith formation programs since 2005-2006, when the Parent Guides were first distributed. Please click here to order your parent guides online.
CHILDREN'S CURRICULUM
Catholic schools and parish faith formation and youth ministry programs throughout the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis began teaching children about personal safety and sexual abuse prevention in 2006. These personal safety instruction lessons continue during the 2009-2010 school year and will continue in all future years.
The personal safety programs involve four 30 to 40 minute lessons a year for Catholic school children and two 30 to 40 minute lessons a year for children in parish faith formation programs. Click here to see an outline of approved curriculum.
The programs are age-appropriate and respect parents’ role as their children’s primary educators.
Parents have an opportunity to review all program materials before their children receive instruction.
Parents may sign a form to opt their children out of personal safety instruction.
Please contact your child's school or faith formation office for more details about what program is being offered at your child's site.
FAITH FORMATION, SCHOOL, YOUTH MINISTRY PROGRAMS SUMMARY FORM FOR PARENT OPTION (OPT-OUT)
Each year, bishops are required to give materials to parents who opt their children out of personal safety instruction in Catholic school and parish programs. These parents are asked to read and share the materials with their children at their discretion.
School and parish catechetical leaders need to fill out an Opt Out Summary Form in order to receive the materials to give to parents opting their children out of personal safety instruction. Catechetical leaders may find the form in the PCYI Resource Book, August 2007, Section IV, Page 11. Or, leaders may download a form to fax or mail to the PCYI Office by clicking here. Alternatively, the form may be completed online by clicking here.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR PARISH FAITH FORMATION PROGRAMS
Please click here to read more about additional personal safety instruction materials for parish faith formation programs. Please click here to order additional materials online.
ADDITIONAL MATERIALS FOR SCHOOLS
Please click here to read more about additional personal safety instruction materials for schools. Please click here to order supplemental materials online.
VIRTUS: Protecting God's Children for Adults
VIRTUS training is a three hour awareness session which better equips adults to protect children in the world around them. It is required of all clergy, school and parish employees as well as all volunteers who are in regular or unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18. Click here to view sessions online and register for the session of your choice.
Updated: November 19, 2009