St. Elizabeth Church Safe Environment

Safe Environment

St. Elizabeth employees and all volunteers serving with our youth and vulnerable adults must observe all Safe Environment screening procedures for the Diocese of Dallas before participating in any of the ministries. Once a volunteer/employee is cleared through any parish or school within the Diocese of Dallas’ Safe Environment program, he/she is cleared throughout the whole diocese and can volunteer in all ministries without having to repeat the Safe Environment New Volunteer process again. However, the St. Elizabeth Safety Director must have received the required documentation from the parish/school verifying the Safe Environment status before the volunteer may be active in St. Elizabeth ministries.

There is a Diocesan requirement that a person be an active registered member of the parish for a period of time prior to being allowed to volunteer as one of the two required cleared adults. If you are new to the parish, we ask that you provide a letter from your previous parish indicating you have been active for the last six months and were a parishioner in good standing. If you are not registered in St. Elizabeth, we recommend that you register as soon as possible.

New Volunteers and Employees who have completed the Dallas Diocesan Safe Environment in a Parish or School other than St. Elizabeth, Bonham.

If you have completed the Safe Environment somewhere in the Diocese of Dallas, documentation can be shared with St. Elizabeth. Contact the Safety Director in your previous parish/school and have them share your record on the Diocesan Database with St. Elizabeth, Bonham.

For more information, contact St. Elizabeth Safety Director, Deacon Joe Culling at cullingjb@skytex.net.

Volunteers and Employees who need annual update to previously completed Safe Environment

The Diocese of Dallas requires that all volunteers and employees receive Safe Environment training once every 12 calendar months to retain the “cleared” status.

OPTION ONE:

Update training can be done on line by going to the diocesan web site CLICK HERE.


  1. Click on Update Training Schedule (not update training) under
      Additional Links on the left.
  2. Click on My Obligations at the top of the screen.
     (Ignore list of classes at lower portion of screen.)
  3. Enter your last name and street address.  Hit enter.
  4. Confirm your information as shown.  Be sure your email address
      is correct.
  5. Click on Confirm Update Information and Continue.
  6. Click on View all Online Classes at the top of the list
     (not scheduled classes.)
  7. Select one of the FOUR choices.  View the class.  Answer the review.
  
  When completed, a notice will automatically be entered into the diocesan database,
  sent to St. Elizabeth Safety Director, and to your email confirming the 
  class was taken.

OPTION TWO:

Update training can be done on line by going to the diocesan web site CLICK HERE.


  1. Click on Update Training under Additional Links on the left.
  2. Select one of the training options listed (select any one of them).
  3. Follow the prompts to complete the training.
  4. Print the review, complete it, sign and date the review.
  5. Fax or scan and email to Deacon Joe Culling.


OPTION THREE:

  A printed copy of Domestic Violence or Adult Abuse may be obtained from the
  parish office.  Read it, complete the review and turn it in to Deacon Joe
  Culling.

To send other than fax to Deacon Joe, put review/certificate in an envelope with Deacon Joe's name on it and mail it to the church or put it in his slot outside his office at the BGC. Deacon Joe Culling, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 916 Maple St., Bonham, TX 75418.

Safe Environment Process for those volunteers and employees who have not previously completed Dallas Diocesan Safe Environment in a parish or school.

1) Screening Form


When you get down to "Select Location" use the drop down and find St. Elizabeth, Bonham
Under Ministry, i.e. teaching is Faith Formation 
Under Position, Volunteer
Under Title, leave blank
Complete the form

Make sure the following has been completed on your screening form:


1) Personal information. Include your email id on the front page. 
2) Names, current active addresses, phone numbers and emails (if available) of three 
   personal references (must be an acquaintance for at least 3 years and not an employer). 
   References will be contacted. 
3) SS# field accepts only the last 4 digits.
4) DL# or personal ID# is a required field
5) DOB is a required field 
6) Hit “Submit”. If all data is complete, it will be submitted to the database for the parish 
   Safety Director to retrieve. If not, it will return to you asking for some fields to be 
   completed. If all fields are completed, you will see the last page of the Screening Form. 
   Print this page, sign, date and fax to St. Elizabeth Director, Deacon Joe Culling, 903-583-7359.

CLICK HERE FOR On Line Screening Form

To send other than fax to Deacon Joe, put release in an envelope with Deacon Joe's name on it and mail it to the church or put it in his slot outside his office at the BGC. Deacon Joe Culling, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 916 Maple St., Bonham, TX 75418.

2) Signed Acknowledgement Form

The “Diocese of Dallas Safe Environment Program” and "Diocese of Dallas Policy on Sexual Misconduct" must be read and the Acknowledgement Form signed. The Acknowledgement Form states that the content of these documents have been read and understood. Sign, date and fax the Acknowledgment Form to Deacon Joe Culling, 903-583-7359.

CLICK HERE FOR Diocese of Dallas Safe Environment Program
Print the "Acknowledgement Form" on page 16 of "Diocesan Safe Environment Program"

CLICK HERE FOR Diocese of Dallas Policy on Sexual Misconduct

To send other than fax to Deacon Joe, put release in an envelope with Deacon Joe's name on it and mail it to the church or put it in his slot outside his office at the BGC. Deacon Joe Culling, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 916 Maple St., Bonham, TX 75418.
CLICK HERE FOR Acknowledgement Form

3) Criminal Background Check (CBC)

St. Elizabeth Safety Director will order the CBC upon receipt of all required items.

4) Interview

You will be interviewed by the Safety Director or someone from the ministry.

5) Reference Checks

The Safety Director will contact the references.

6) Safe Environment Family of Faith Training

All volunteers and employees must attend a Family of Faith Training in order to be cleared through Safe Environment. This training consists of a presentation by the Safety Director and the Family of Faith video narrated by Bishop Farrell. This training is offered on line by watching the Family of Faith Training video and answering the Family of Faith Training Review questions.

CLICK HERE For Family of Faith Video Training Review
CLICK HERE TO WATCH Family of Faith Training Video

Don't forget to print the review; complete it, sign and fax to : Deacon Joe Culling, 903-583-7359.

If for some reason the video won’t work on your computer, you will have to wait for the next class at St. Elizabeth or you may contact the Safety Director for information.

Family of Faith Classes are held periodically in other locations throughout the diocese. For assistance in finding one to attend, contact the parish Safety Director, Dcn. Joe Culling at cullingjb@skytex.net

Summary:

1) Screening Form – complete on line; fax or mail signed release page
2) Acknowledgment Form – fax or mail after reading Policy
3) Criminal Background Check – done by Safety Director
4) Interview – done by Ministry Coordinator or Safety Director
5) References – contacted by Safety Director
6) Training – View training, complete review and fax or mail to Safety Director

A volunteer or employee is not considered “cleared” by the diocese until the Safety Director has completed a review of the documentation, conducted the references and done the Criminal Background Check. The Safety Director will send an email to the Ministry Director and volunteer/employee when this process is complete. A volunteer/employee should not start until the verification email is received.

Reporting Abuse:

CLICK HERE FOR Contact Information for Reporting Abuse

CLICK HERE FOR Contact Information for Counseling and Treatment Referrals

Additional Forms - Handouts

CLICK HERE FOR Myths Regarding Abuse and Sex Offenders

CLICK HERE FOR Child Sexual Abuse Knowledge Inventory

Additional Forms - Motor Vehicle Form

Volunteers and Employees who drive clients on behalf of the parish are required to have on file with the parish a current:

Driving Record: A Motor Vehicle Release Form (MVR) is required in order for the parish Safety Director to secure the Driving Record. If you will be driving clients (youth, homebound, etc.) while representing the parish, please print the MVR Form below. Complete the form and fax it to Dcn. Joe Culling, 903-583-7359.

CLICK HERE FOR Motor Vehicle Release Form

Thank you for helping to keep our children and all those who are at risk, safe.

Deacon Joe Culling, Safety Director,
St. Elizabeth Catholic Church
916 Maple St.
Bonham, TX 75418

903-587-2366 - cullingjb@skytex.net
fax: 903-583-7359