Safe Environment
Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal
The Archdiocese of Milwaukee is committed to maintaining safe environments for children to learn, pray, and grow. Our Safe Environment Office supports our archdiocese, parishes, and schools in maintaining compliance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Charter for the Protection of Children & Young People. The Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal explains some of the ways in which our archdiocese supports compliance with the articles of the Charter for the Protection of Children &Young People.
All those who volunteer with minors are required to complete a Safe Environment Education Session.
To register for a Safe Environment Education Session click HERE
As Catholics, we are all tasked with participating in ensuring that every child is able to feel safe in our parishes and schools. In addition to our safe environment requirements for adults, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee requires all parish religious education programs and Catholic schools to provide instruction on personal safety and abuse prevention in age-appropriate lessons for all children in grades kindergarten through twelfth grade enrolled in their programs. Parishes and schools are required to annually report their compliance with this requirement.
We invite you to explore what we are doing at the archdiocesan level, at the parish/school level, and what we ask of every adult in our parishes to do to help us maintain a Safe Environment to remember our past, protect our present and hope for our future.
Requirements
Every priest, deacon, parish or school staff member, teacher and lay minister that is employed by a parish or school and any volunteer working with minors or in leadership positions (I.e. scout leaders if school sponsored, trustees, etc.) in our archdiocese is required to meet three requirements:
Attend a Safe Environment Education Session. This is a child abuse and maltreatment prevention program that must be attended in person. The current curriculum taught in this session utilizes the Safe Haven series from Catholic Mutual Group.
Pass a Criminal Background Check. This check is done at the start of employment or beginning volunteering with minors and must be done every five (5) years subsequently. The criminal background check is conducted through the CMG Connect portal. The criminal background check reports are reviewed and certified through the collaboration of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee Safe Environment Office and parish/school Safe Environment coordinators.
Sign the Code of Ethical Standards. This code of conduct provides clergy, volunteers, and employees with expectations and guidelines for how they interact with and conduct themselves in ministry. This code must be signed prior to beginning volunteering or working in a parish or school and is reviewed every five (5) years subsequently.
Guidlines for minors
Under 18 Volunteers: No training needed.
Under 18 Employees: Minor Employee Safe Environment curriculum on CMG Connect (includes a background check)
18-year-old Volunteers: Adults in the eyes of the law as soon as they turn 18, therefore they need to undergo the full training and get certified if they are volunteering with minors.
meeting the requirements
Go to www.archmil.org/Offices/Safe-Environment.htm for a complete listing of how to register if you are new, doing a renewal, needing additional training, etc. Everything you need to proceed is listed at that website through the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
parish safe environment coordinator contact information
If you have any questions or problems, please contact the St. Monica/St. Eugene coordinator, Mary Brzozowski, at brzozowski@stme.church or (414) 420-6171.