1. STANDARDS OF MINISTERIAL BEHAVIOR AND BOUNDARIES
For Priests, Deacons, Religious, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Teachers, Staff and Volunteers
This presentation should be done at the beginning of the school year with staff, faculty, coaches and all volunteers or paid staff who come in contact with students throughout the school year. This needs to be done regardless of other trainings that could be had during the school year.

2. Standards
There are guidelines for the boundaries of appropriate behavior in all interactions with children and young people.
Responsibility for adherence to the Standards of Ministerial Behavior rests with the individual. Church Personnel who disregard the Standards will be subject to remedial action by the Archdiocese.
It is crucial to re-read the Standards for Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries at least once a year. Failure to be unfamiliar with these standards does not relieve the adult from culpability.
Important to give administrators, teachers, staff, volunteers a copy of the Standards as a reminder or put them into faculty/staff or volunteer handbook.

3. Corrective Actions
May take various forms, including but not limited to a verbal reproach, termination of employment, or removal from ministry, depending on the specific nature and circumstances of the offense and the extent of the harm.
This slide is what happens in the event an adult is negligent in the duty of providing a safe environment for children.

4. REPORTERS OF CHILD ABUSE
MANDATED REPORTERS
THOSE WHO MUST REPORT:
A parent, guardian, or other person supervising the welfare of a child under 18 years of age, or a person that employs or supervises such a person, commits an offense if he knowingly endangers the welfare of the child by violating a duty of care, protection or support.
A person commits an offense if the person, in an official capacity, prevents or interferes with the making of a report of suspected child abuse.
The term “person supervising the welfare of a child” means a person other than a parent or guardian that provides care, education, training or control of a child. (Teacher, volunteer, lunch monitor, coach, administrator, etc.)
Clergy
Teachers
Social Workers
Day Care Center Workers
Mental Health Professionals
Persons supervising children

5. Pennsylvania Law
Pennsylvania law makes no distinction between paid and non-paid personnel. Accordingly, volunteers who come into contact with children in the course of their volunteer duties are mandated reporters.
Slide is clear as is…the safety of our children is the concern of the Church, the School and the State of PA.
Examples
Clergy Youth ministers Playground monitors
Parish and school personnel Child-care workers Foster-care workers
Teachers School nurses Social service workers
Catechists Athletic coaches School volunteers
Music ministers Classroom aides Administrators

6. How Is a Report Made?
Those in paid or volunteer staff positions in any Church-related institution are obligated to immediately notify the person in charge of the institution (e.g., pastor, lead administrator in the school (President or Principal), DRE when child abuse is suspected.
The person in charge will make the report. If the person in charge of the institution is the suspected abuser, the person with the information must make the report.
This is the updated law as of November 2006

7. Contact Information
PA Child Abuse Hotline
Archdiocesan Office for Children and Youth Protection (if the suspected abuser is a church official, employee or volunteer call both numbers)
Office of Catholic Education
Good idea to have these numbers in a convenient location.

8. Penalties for Failure to Report
A person or official required to report a case of suspected child abuse who willfully fails to do so commits a summary offense for the first violation and a misdemeanor of the third degree for a second or subsequent violation.
Summary offense: fine and possible jail time
Need to get this across to all adults; EVERYONE NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS because the statement “I didn’t realize I had to report this situation” will NOT be acceptable.

9. All School Personnel and Volunteers
Re-read the Standards for Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries ~ pages 5 through 8
A copy of the Standards can be downloaded from website
Double check your original copies:
Police Check (updated every five years)
Child Abuse Clearance (updated every five years)
FBI check (if not a PA resident) or hired after 4/1/07 (updated every five years)
Signature sheet from attendance at Child Abuse Prevention Training and acceptance of the Standards for Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries; employee must always retain a copy of proof of attendance at the training session
*Copies should be on file in the Rectory (elementary), OCE (secondary and special education) and in the teacher file in the secured files in the office of the principal in the school.
click on Children and Youth Protection; click on Policies and Procedures; click on Standards for a copy of the Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries.

10. Moral and Ethical Obligation
Our Catholic teaching and tradition calls us to be advocates for those who are powerless and most vulnerable. We have a moral, ethical and legal obligation to report suspected or actual child abuse.
Children think we are protecting them at all times when in our care.

11. Reminder all God's children.
If, in the course of your service in a parish or school you encounter anyone who has experienced sexual abuse by a representative of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please encourage them to contact the Victims’ Assistance Coordinator at Thank you!
Protect
FYI
all God's children.

12. Reporting Abuse
Please call the Office of Catholic Education to report the steps you are taking and to seek further guidance throughout the process:
Elementary
Secondary
Special Ed
Child Line
Office of Child and Youth Protection:
Copy this slide and keep it in an accessible place

13. Professional Boundaries
The relationship between an adult representing the school in any position and a student attending the school is
Friendly but professional
Frank but considerate
Helpful but non-invasive
Regardless of the age of students, adults representing the school in any position are in a position of trust and should never cross professional boundaries.
Students do not need adults invading their world in inappropriate manners that will scar them for a lifetime. As adults, we must be aware of the student’s perceptions of our words and actions. What might appear to be funny to one person, may be exactly the opposite to another. Our stance as Catholic people working with students/children is to model ourselves after Jesus. “Let the children come to Me and do not hinder them.”

14. Unacceptable Behaviors
Too personally involved with students – friend, confidant, surrogate parent
Seeing students in private or non-school settings
Writing or exchanging notes, letters, s
Serving as confidant with regard to student’s decision about personal issues
Giving gifts or money to students
Inviting students to your home or vacation home
Having students overnight in your home or vacation home
Driving individual students to and from school
Giving one student unique attention
Being alone with a student
Sharing personal problems or information with a student
Initiating physical contact or accepting physical contact
Intimidating, harassing or “picking on” a student for any reason
*This list is to establish examples and is not to be considered exhaustive
We need to be Christ-like examples to our students at all times and in all places.

15. Protective Strategies
Learn about the law and your liability as an adult working with students
Keep the door open to a room you are in and NEVER have the classroom door windows covered with material of any kind
Compliment or commend a student but do not hug or touch
Be aware of boundary violations and report any reasonable suspiciion of child abuse to proper authorities
Clarify procedures with your school leadership but do not be afraid to correct inappropriate behavior
Get parents and principals approval for all activities off school property
Let students know when they are overstepping personal boundaries
Seek input form colleagues or other professionals if you are unsure of the appropriateness of your actions or plans
Continue to reassure the audience that we must remain attentive at all times to our personal conduct with students and to ensure a safe environment for all students within our building. Oftentimes, it is the perception of the student that may or may not be correct in interpreting an adult’s motives or behaviors. It is for these reasons we must be vigilant to remain professional and appropriate.