Child Protection Policy Information

Child Protection Information

In a memo dated July 10, 2003 from Msgr. James E. Margason, Vicar General of the Diocese of Belleville, it is reported that the Diocese of Belleville was the first US diocese to be audited under the norms of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People for compliance with the same. As Msgr. Margason reports, "At the time of the audit we were commended for our policies and procedures that have been in place for ten years." The Vicar General does go on to say that more effort can be done to improve the printed procedures for reporting sexual abuse. This addition to the TEC website is an effort to help the diocese continue its efforts to comply with the norms of the Charter.

Anyone wishing to report an allegation of sexual misconduct by a priest
or other diocesan personnel please call the hotline at 800-640-3044.

To view the Belleville Diocesan Child Protection Policy, go to the Diocesan website at http://www.diobelle.org/resources/policy.html

Dear Friends Involved in Youth Retreats,

     Two recent church documents are having a great impact on ministry with young people, and consequently, with our Diocesan Quest and TEC programs.

    In June 2002, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, under the leadership of our own Bishop Wilton Gregory, published a document entitled Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. This document called for each diocese to implement a policy, which would offer safety and protection for the youth of our Church. In July 2003, Bishop Gregory promulgated a Child Protection Policy for the Diocese of Belleville.

    The Child Protection Policy of the Diocese affects all adults who spend time with young people in a church setting – Catholic school teachers and staff and volunteers, PSR teachers and volunteers, youth ministry volunteers, and those of us who serve in the Quest and TEC retreat programs.

    To properly comply with the Child Protection Policy, the following steps are necessary. First, you must attend a Policy Training Session. Details about this session can be obtained from your local parish or contact a TEC board member. As part of the end of the training, you will be asked to sign a form of acknowledgment that you participated. One copy will go to the Diocesan office and the other copy is to go to your local parish office. Second, at each parish, one person – pastor, parish life coordinator, secretary, business manager, etc. – will be designated the location coordinator. This person will give you two more forms to fill out and be filed with the parish and Diocese. One is the Application for Volunteer Service, and the other is the Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System or CANTS form. Those who are paid employees of the parish dealing with young people will have three forms to fill out. One is an Application for Employment, the CANTS form, and an Illinois State Police Criminal Background Check.

    Some of you, through your current positions, may have started or even completed this process. All of us will have to go through the process. We urge you to begin as soon as possible. To serve as an adult team member on any of the Quest and/or TEC retreats, you will need to have completed the process, or not be alone with young people on a retreat unless monitored by someone who has completed the process. (If you would like to serve as a director for either retreat program it is mandatory that you complete the Illinois State Police Criminal Background Check.) It is also important to note that even if you have received comparable training and screening from a different organization (i.e. Scouting, a non-diocesan employer like YMCA, or even another diocese), you will still need to complete the Belleville Diocesan training.

     We realize this may seem a burden for some; however, we must remember that the main point of the Bishops’ plan is that young people are safe. Quest and TEC are for the young people of the Diocese and it is our hope that they continue to provide a positive, religious experience for young people. Please help us continue these excellent programs. Complete the training and sign up for a team this fall or winter.

    Thank you for all you do in service to the youth of our Church.

Sincerely yours,

The Diocesan Quest and TEC Boards

In Summary,

To be a Team Member age 18 or older, you need to...

Attend an initial training session (approx. 2 hour) Be sure to complete the documentation at the end of the session
Attend an annual Refresher Course beyond the Initial Training (approx. 1 hour session)
Complete an Application for Volunteer Service (send to your parish site coordinator)
Complete a Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) form (send to the address on the form)
Certain leadership roles (Lay Director, for example) will also need to complete the State Police Criminal History Record Check (sometimes called the State Conviction Information Name Check Request.) This is a serial numbered form that can be obtained from your site coordinator. If residing in the State of Illinois for less than 5 years, a National or prior or current State Criminal Background Check must be completed.

Some of the forms mentioned above will need to be updated from time to time. Forms must be obtained from your parish, as they are coded for tracking purposes so you are easier to find in the system. For specific questions about this, contact Lynn at the Child Protection Office 618-277-8181.

Training Sessions:

Contact your location coordinator or the Child Protection Office (277-8181) for the latest training information.

Belleville Diocesan TEC Retreats
2620 Lebanon Avenue
Belleville, IL 62221