Parish, school coordinators oversee safety training for adults and kids alike

BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC

Safe Environment: a familiar term to anyone who has worked or volunteered in parishes, schools or other entities within the Diocese of Owensboro.

It refers to the training required of anyone in the diocese working or volunteering with young and/or vulnerable people and includes a background check. Safe Environment’s purpose is so that anyone who interacts with vulnerable persons can recognize potential signs of abuse, and know how to report it.

A separate program called Circle of Grace – which helps youth in diocesan schools, youth groups and religious education classes recognize possible signs of abuse and know how to report it to responsible adults – is presented annually.

But behind every parish or school Safe Environment training is a dedicated coordinator who works with the diocese’s Office of Safe Environment to make sure all employees and volunteers are within compliance.

Dave Kaminski, the IT administrator at Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green, is his parish’s Safe Environment coordinator.

“We are called by Christ to acknowledge the life and dignity of every person, as children of God,” said Kaminski in a Feb. 3, 2021 interview with The Western Kentucky Catholic. “By participating in education, training, and background checks, we live out the Gospel message of respect and care for others. We protect the dignity of all people by adhering to our safe environment policies.”

In addition to ensuring that everyone has done their training and stays up-to-date, Kaminski said coordinators are also required to submit this information to the diocesan Office of Safe Environment.

This role is not without its challenges.

“One of the challenges I face is getting some of our volunteers to understand the importance of completing (the trainings),” he said. “I explain that it is a requirement that benefits all through education, training, and support with the goal of providing a safe environment for all.”

As someone who has gone through the training process several times over the years, Kaminski said he personally finds it helpful to be reminded of “the valuable information provided by the training.”

“It is important to train as many people as possible to look for the warning signs of potential abuse, and provide them with uniform instructions to report it, if necessary,” he said. “I think it is important to recognize that ‘safe environment’ is for all.”

Terra Hurtte, the administrative office manager at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School in Henderson, has served as her school’s Safe Environment coordinator for nearly 11 years.

Within this role, “I make sure I know who is in my building at all times and make sure that they have the proper documentation in place,” said Hurtte, who spoke on the phone with the WKC on Feb. 1, 2021.

Hurtte, who on a quarterly basis checks in with Holy Name faculty, staff and volunteers to make sure their Safe Environment documentation is up-to-date, said the process is “a team effort.”

“We want families to be assured that there’s a process to be here,” said Hurtte, adding that their goal is to provide parents with “peace of mind” that their children are in a safe place with adults who care for their wellbeing.

Hurtte explained that even volunteering in a school setting “is a big responsibility” from the perspective of Safe Environment: “You’re the eyes and ears for these kids who are in the building.”

“You’re there as a safety net,” she said, pointing out that Safe Environment training is to educate on how to recognize “if things aren’t what they should be – if there are signs of abuse.”

Cyndi Vaughan, the office assistant at Blessed Mother Parish in Owensboro and the parish’s Safe Environment coordinator, explained that Safe Environment training expires after five years.

Part of her position involves contacting parish volunteers before their training expires, so they can renew it ahead of time and remain within compliance.

“I keep an eye on when it will expire, and then send them a letter or email” reminding them, said Vaughan.

Granted, COVID-19 has slowed the number of new volunteers at Blessed Mother; Vaughan explained that there are not many events happening on campus right now, including the children’s liturgy.

Despite that, Vaughan has still kept up with everyone’s Safe Environment status: “We can’t let them help if their Safe Environment isn’t up-to-date,” said Vaughan, adding that the online training only takes about an hour.

“Church and school are the two places where children should always feel safe,” she said.

Alyssa Maty is the pastoral associate at St. Michael Parish in Sebree, a multicultural parish whose members’ native languages include Spanish, English and the indigenous Guatemalan language Akateko.

Maty said that before the pandemic, she would present the training in-person to Spanish-speaking adults and/or children – a helpful method for parishioners whose first language is not English.

“It helped me get to know (the volunteers),” said Maty, who has approximately 30-40 volunteers in her parish system.

Maty said that presenting the Safe Environment training in this individualized way helps check on volunteer morale. When volunteers reach their five-year renewal time, Maty said it is a good opportunity to see if anyone needs a break or change from their volunteer role.

She uses the training process to talk about safety in general, such as the dangers of children walking home alone after dark, and being aware of “stranger danger” beyond the walls of a parish setting.

Right now, the Safe Environment training must be done virtually – which lacks the human interaction that helped Maty’s method thrive – and she looks forward to the day when training can be done safely in person again.

Keeping up with the “safety” theme, Maty has also in the past brought Susan Montalvo-Gesser, the director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Owensboro, to give a “Know Your Rights” presentation for members of the immigrant community.

“It’s interesting how the safety of all ties into all these topics,” said Maty.

A message from the Office of Safe Environment

Volunteers play an integral role at the parish level. They are relied on and appreciated much by pastors and parish staff! Our hope and prayer is that as more vaccines are administered, both catechetical and social activities for youth and families will return as we eventually are able to meet in person. In order to prepare for life to return to “normal,” our volunteers are encouraged to complete their Safe Environment training and background checks and sign their policy acknowledgements. Let’s be prepared for our in-person meetings resuming by staying one step ahead! For any questions or concerns, please contact Janice Hendricks in the Office of Safe Environment, at 270-683-1545. Thank you!

 

The Charter

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops created the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in June 2002, which addresses allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. This Charter led to the creation of the Office of Safe Environment at the Diocese of Owensboro. Learn more at owensborodiocese.org/charter-mission.

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Originally printed in the March 2021 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.