Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Parish * Santa Clarita, CA

SEP - Safe Environment Program -  SEP Ministry Handbook- Volunteers revised June 2008.pdf
Why should our parish have a “Safe Environment” Program?
The parish of Blessed Kateri is initiating this program to provide for a safe environment in all of
parish activities. By reducing the risk of child abuse, we want to create a safe environment for all
who participate in our parish ministry; we want to reduce the chance that Clergy, Employees or
Volunteers might face false accusations and we want to have the parish community feel more
confident in the ability of the parish to protect children.

VIRTUS for Children: Teaching Touching Safety Program 2008-2009
VIRTUS for Children Overview
VIRTUS for Children Program Materials
VIRTUS for Children Permission Slip
VIRTUS for Children Opt-Out Form

This school year 2008-2009 we will continue to teach the VIRTUS for Children: Teaching Touching Safety Program as mandated by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. This special program teaches about safe boundaries. This year the emphasis will be on recognizing risky adult behavior.

New this year, we will be offering this information to our 5 year olds in Little Church. The program will be offered on two consecutive Sundays in September 2008.

Instructions for Elementary will be during their regular class times the week of September 22-25 and 27, 2008.

Junior High will be taught this information on Monday, November 17, 2008 in the Worship Area

Confirmation, Level I will be on Monday, December 14, 2008; Level II will be on Monday, November 2, 2008.

Parents will be given the opportunity to attend a parent orientation in order to be presented more information about this program. At the parent orientation, you will be given the training materials, a permission slip or an opt-out form for each of your children. One of these forms will need to be filled out so that we can place your decision on file. Please send your childr(en) to class that day if you are permitting them to participate in this program. Only those children who have a permission slip to attend the training will be allowed into class on the above dates.

The overview, training materials, permission slips and opt-out forms are available on this website. Please see below:


VIRTUS for Adults - http://virtus.org/virtus/

Fingerprinting Information - Blessed Kateri Fingerprinting Information and Form.pdf
As part of our ongoing commitment to safeguard the children of our parish, all prospective staff and volunteers are required to submit to a criminal background check through the use of fingerprints. All results from the criminal background check are kept in the strictest confidence.