Safe Environment

1. Screening Form

The Safe Environment Screening Form helps us understand who you are and what ministry you wish to be involved in. This is not the same form as the Parish Registration Form.
Complete the online Safe Environment Screening Form. 

2. Reference Checks

On the screening form, you will provide three personal/professional references that have known you for three years. Please do not list family members. The references will be asked a series of questions designed to help us gain insight about you. Your references will receive an email, please ask them to reply promptly.

3. Complete Training

4. Personal Interview

Please allow 30 minutes for your interview. The interview is conducted in person and allows us to gain a better understanding of who you are. All interviews are kept confidential. The interview is necessary for new volunteers/employees. Please click here to sign up for an interview. Update - interviews are currently being done via Zoom. Once you sign up we will send you a link.

5. Criminal History Check

Your information is kept confidential during the background process. Accutrak, a Diocesan agency is used to process your information.

6. The Badge

After all, steps have been completed, please allow at least 7 days for the processing and distribution of your badge.
Your badge must be worn at all times when you are doing anything other than attending Mass.

7. Lost Badges

Email safeenvironment@stmonicachurch.org.

8. Yearly Training

Training must be renewed annually. All badges expire in August of the next/current year regardless of when training was completed. 

Yearly training is required for all volunteers or those involved in ministries. 

1. Complete Training

For the 2023/2024 year, all returning volunteers are asked to complete their renewal training online. This is the same training that was available last year. 

Remember that all 2022/2023 badges expire on 8/31/2023. 

• Log into My Obligations  
  • If you cannot find your record DO NOT make a new one, email mgilmore@stmonicachurch.org
  • Once you are in you will update your record with any new contact information or address
  • Click update and continue
  • Choose the Standard Sexual Abuse Awareness Training
• Send an email to mgilmore@stmonicachurch.org with the following information
  • Name
  • Ministry you serve or if you are a school parent
• Once completed your badge will be printed and you will get an email letting you know where to pick it up

2. Badge Distribution

The Screening Form is only filled out in Year 1.

Reference Checks are only conducted in Year 1

The Personal Interview is only conducted in Year 1.

Criminal History Re-Check - If you are up to date on your annual training, the re-check will be conducted automatically every two years.

Foundation classes are for New Families/Volunteers. 

You must register for the foundation class. Register here

Renewal classes are for anyone who has already taken the Foundation Class and/or has had a badge in the past year.
Renewal classes are all online.  
Follow this link to complete the online class My Obligations

For those who are unable to take the class online, you are welcome to attend the in-person foundation class. This class will last approximately 2 hours.
 

Disqualifying offenses are:  

• A felony or misdemeanor classified as an offense against the person or family or involves an offense against the person or family. Examples: Offenses against a person include, but are not limited to, murder, assault, sexual assault, and abandoning or endangering a child or vulnerable adult. Offenses against the family include, but are not limited to bigamy, incest, and interference with child custody, enticing a child, and harboring a runaway child.

• A felony or misdemeanor classified as an Offense against Public Order, Safety, or Decency. Examples: Offenses against public order or decency include, but are not limited to prostitution, obscenity, sexual performance by a child, possession or promotion of child pornography, and disorderly conduct.​

• A felony violation of any law intended to control the possession or distribution of any substance included as a controlled substance in the Texas Controlled Substance Act.

• A felony or misdemeanor classified as an Offense against Property, to the extent that those offenses are related to threats or risk of harm or violence. Examples: Offenses against property include Robbery, Burglary of a Habitation, and Arson. Other offenses, such as theft by check, or fraud would not ordinarily be considered Disqualifying Offenses.

• A felony Computer Crime of online solicitation of a minor

• A felony or misdemeanor Offence against Public Health, Safety, and Morals, involving illegal possession or use of weapons. Examples: Disqualifying Offenses would include unlawful weapons charges, including illegal weapons, bombs, and illegal carrying of weapons.

The foregoing lists of offenses describe categories from the Texas Penal Code. The categories of offenses may be slightly different in other states. In summary, any offense which in the discretion of the Diocese would impact health and safety would be a disqualifying offense.