The Safe Environments Policy was created to take reasonable measures to assure that Church personnel who have regular contact with minors are committed to providing a safe environment for children and youth, are capable of identifying and preventing abuse of children, and have no personal history of behavior that would be a threat to children.

The Safe Environments Policy applies to all Church personnel who have regular contact with minors. Church personnel is defined as all adult persons (those 18 years of age or older), whether clergy, members of consecrated life, or laity, who, as employees or volunteers, act in the name of the Church under the auspices of the Diocese of Pittsburgh or one of its parishes.

Safe Environments Requirements (Clearances)

The Diocese of Pittsburgh requires that all volunteers in ministry with children comply with the Safe Environments Policy which includes the following components:

For a full list of ministry volunteers requiring clearances, please click here.

Diocesan Online Database
All adults who have regular contact with minors are to complete the Diocese of Pittsburgh's database application.  Once this application is completed, it will also be used to obtain a Pennsylvania State Police criminal record check.  When asked to choose your site, it will be “Saint Kilian Parish. When asked for an Access Code, it is “Protect”.

PA Criminal Record Check
Required for all volunteers, ages 18 and above, who work in ministry with children or teens. Print, complete, and sign.  Must be renewed every FIVE years.  Now completed with the Database application above.

PA Child Abuse History Clearance
PA Child Abuse History Clearance - Required for all volunteers, age 18 and above, who work in ministry with children. Print, complete, and sign. Must be renewed every FIVE years.

PA Child Abuse History Consent - Please sign this consent form and return it to the office along with the PA Child Abuse form above so that the PCAHC form can be directly mailed to the parish (instead of to the home).  You may choose not to sign the form, however, it will take longer for their clearances to be complete until the parish gets the form in hand.

  • Name & address are YOUR name and address
  • Social Security Number is mandatory -- forms are stored in locked files at the Church
  • Purpose of Clearance is VOLUNTEERS
  • List ALL addresses and household members since 1975 -- the clearance will be delayed if information is missing.  This includes parents, siblings, children, spouse, room mates, etc.
  • Parish Pays for all Clearances.  Return completed Form to Parish Office.

Protecting God's Children
Protecting God's Children Form -  Please note that this form does not register you for the class - it simply lets us know which class you attended or will attend.

The "Protecting God's Children" workshop is required for all adults, age 18 and up, who wish to volunteer in ministry with children. It is an excellent program that truly equips adults to create safer environments for children.  For a list of all Protecting God's Children workshops in our area, click here To register for a Protecting God's Children workshop click here, and then click on the registration link.

Forms

Background Checks by Ministry
The Diocese of Pittsburgh has mandated the following list of ministries are required to comply to the Safe Environments Policy.

  1. Altar Server–Adult
  2. Bereavement Team Coordinator/Volunteer
  3. Business Manager/Bookkeeper
  4. Cantor
  5. Catechetical Administrator
  6. Catechist
  7. Catechist Aide
  8. Catechumenate Director
  9. Chaperone
  10. Child Care Giver/Babysitter
  11. Choir Director–Vocal/Bell
  12. Choir Member–Vocal/Bell
  13. Deacon–Permanent/Transitional
  14. Diocesan Priest Incardinated in the Diocese and on Assignment or Retired within the Diocese
  15. Diocesan Priest Not Incardinated in the Diocese, on Assignment or in Residence in the Diocese
  16. Diocesan Staff Member whose duties require regular contact with minors
  17. Director of Music Ministry
  18. Elderly Outreach Coordinator/Volunteer
  19. Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion
  20. Family Life Minister/Volunteer
  21. Fund Raising Worker/Volunteer (e.g., bingo, festival, fish fry, etc.) whose duties require regular contact with minors
  22. Housekeeper/Cook
  23. Janitor/Maintenance Worker
  24. Lector/Reader
  25. Liturgical Art and Environment Coordinator/Volunteer
  26. Organist/Instrumentalist
  27. Parish Wedding Coordinator
  28. Pastoral Associate/Minister
  29. Religious Order Priest on Assignment in the Diocese
  30. Respect Life Coordinator/Legislative Advocate
  31. Sacristan
  32. Secretary–Parish/Religious Education/School/ Youth Ministry
  33. Seminarian
  34. Trainer–Youth Altar Servers and/or Lectors
  35. Usher/Greeter/Minister of Hospitality
  36. Youth Minister
  37. Youth Ministry Volunteer