Protecting Children
Maintaining Safe Environments
Notre Dame Academy is committed to creating, providing, and maintaining safe environments in its school, so that all persons, especially children, young people, and individuals at risk, will be protected as far as possible from all harm including physical and sexual abuse. This policy is in compliance with The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and the Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests or Deacons, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
NDA and the Diocese it is located in, expects its priests, deacons, other ministers, employees and volunteers to help protect children, young people, and individuals at risk by demonstrating the Church's care and love for all people and by observing the Church's teachings on sexual morality.
All priests, deacons, other ministers, and employees are required to:
Complete an application prior to beginning volunteer service in which they:
- Provide NDA with professional/personal references through use of the Diocesan application process;
- Complete, sign and date the appropriate declaration form;
- Authorize a criminal background check and receive a satisfactory report
- Complete the VIRTUS Adult Awareness Training Session prior to the first day of service. Those employees in positions with immediate access to children must complete VIRTUS training prior to the first day of service.
- Complete ongoing monthly educational bulletins (Select personnel*)
- Sign the Acknowledgement and Agreement Form in which they acknowledge receipt of Our Promise to Protect…Diocesan Policies on Appropriate Conduct of the Diocese of Green Bay as adopted by Notre Dame Academy and agree to follow and adhere to the Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct as required by NDA.
- Review and observe Our Promise to Protect…Diocesan Policies on Appropriate Conduct.
All adult volunteers who have contact with children, young people, and individuals at risk as part of their volunteer duties are required to:
- Complete an application for prior to beginning volunteer service in which they
- Provide NDA with professional/personal references through use of the Diocesan application process;
- Complete, sign and date the appropriate declaration form;
- Authorize a criminal background check and receive a satisfactory report
- Complete the VIRTUS Adult Awareness Training Session prior to the first day of service. Overnight chaperones and sole adult drivers must complete VIRTUS training prior to the event.
- Sign Agreement form in which they agree to follow and adhere to the Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct for Volunteers.
All youth volunteers (under the age of 18) are required to adhere to the provisions of the Youth Application and Youth Code of Conduct.
VIRTUS attendance within another diocese may be recognized if there is an approved outline training record of session attendance at VIRTUS.org. If there is no approved online VIRTUS.org record from another diocese the VIRTUS® Protecting God's Children Adult Awareness Session must be re-taken in the Diocese of Green Bay.
Failure to comply with these requirements will result in the removal of the person from employment, ministry, or the denial of volunteer service within the diocese.
Should there be any questions or concerns, please contact the appropriate LOSEC Coordinator. At Notre Dame Academy (920) 429-6108.
*Select Personnel required to complete ongoing monthly educational bulletins: Required to read On-line Training Bulletins for Virtus Protecting God's Children for Adults found under the "My Training" tab at www.virtus.org:
- Business Administrators with Personnel Responsibilities
- Business Managers with Personnel Responsibilities
- Catechetical Leaders
- Deacons
- Deacon Candidates
- Directors/Coordinators of Religious Education
- Diocesan Professional Personnel
- Family Life Ministers
- Instructional Aides/Tutors
- Local Safe Environment Coordinators
- Parish Directors
- Parish Nurses
- Pastoral Associates
- Pastoral Ministers
- Priests
- Principals
- Seminarians
- Special Religious Ed. Program Facilitators
- System Administrators
- Teachers
- Youth Ministers/Coordinators
- VIRTUS Facilitators