New Employee Documentation and Payroll Requirement
The following Safe Environment documentation is necessary before a prospective employee is permitted to begin work for any parish, school, or agency:
- Registered online at www.virtus.org;
- Submitted a signed statement agreeing to be bound by the Policies and Procedures for Addressing Sexual Misconduct;
- Successfully passed the required background check;
- Attended a Protecting God’s Children for Adults training session.
The Payroll Office is not permitted to process salary payments until there is assurance that these requirements have been fulfilled.
Short Term Ministry
Verification of Good Standing: Short Term Services of Bishops, Priests, Deacons, Religious, and Laity in the Diocese of Covington
Bishops, priests, and deacons from outside the Diocese of Covington, and all religious and lay persons from outside one’s own parish, institution, or organization must be screened before being invited to minister or speak. A screening application must be submitted to the Chancery for every individual event, even if the prospective speaker/minister has provided service in the diocese previously. More detailed information and screening application forms are available on the Chancery webpage, https://www.covdio.org/chancery (select “Speaker/Minister Verification). Advertising for an event may not take place until good standing has been verified and clearance given to accept the services of the speaker/minister.
Background Checks
Diocesan policy requires a background check for all employees and volunteers. These checks fall into two categories:
- those done through the FBI (costing $36.50) for contracted school staff in positions requiring certification(i.e. teachers, administrators, librarians, counselors, etc.); and
- those done through Selection.com (costing $25) for other employees and for volunteers.
For contracted, certified school staff, including principals, teachers, counselors, etc., a background check is conducted through the FBI’s AFIS database. The school administrator and/or the local Virtus Coordinator will schedule this check for the individual.
ONLY contracted, certified school staff are eligible for the FBI check.
Background checks for all non-certified personnel are done on the individual’s VIRTUS account through a link to Selection.com. The cost is $25. If a person does not wish to use a credit card, a “token” may be purchased from the parish, school or agency and used online in place of the credit card. The Selection.com background check is good for as long as the person consistently remains active in VIRTUS.
Prevention Programs for School Children
All schools in the Diocese shall offer for parents and students a “safe environment for children” component of the educational program, in keeping with the American Bishops’ “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.”
Schools must offer the sexual abuse program at least biennially using a professional group. On the alternate year schools are to present a safe environment program on such topics as bullying, internet safety, text messaging, Theology of the Body, chastity, drug abuse, suicide, pornography, etc.
The following are programs that have been used in the Diocese of Covington and have merited positive evaluations:
- Boone County Sheriff: Internet Safety
- Cincinnati Bell: Bullying
- Theology of the Body
- Women’s Crisis Center Green Dot for High Schools
- NetSmartz (online training)
Regardless of the program you use, please remember to
- Clear the speaker using the “Verification of Good Standing.” Exceptions are: The Family Nurturing Center, Council on Child Abuse of Southern Ohio and Julie Feinaur. These three need NOT be cleared using “Verification of Good Standing.”
- Make sure parents know the dates of training.
- Keep on file the signed form for students whose parents decline training of child and send a copy to Department of Catholic Schools.
- Keep names of absentees on file.
- Provide parents with program literature, especially if the child was not trained. (Literature is provided by the approved groups or you may borrow materials from the Department of Catholic Schools, the Office of Catechesis and Formation or the online lesson plans.)
- If a child was trained in the public school during the current school term, have a certificate or a letter from the public school stating location, date, topic for each child that you can verify with the public school.
- A child absent for the live training by professionals may be trained using the online lesson plans.
Verification of Good Standing Not Needed for the Following 3 Groups
Kids on the Block (Family Nurturing Center)
Kids on the Block (Grades 1 thru 5 only)
Kids on the Block (Preschool & Kindergarten)
Bullying (K thru Grade 5)
Ms. Autumn Caldwell (859-538-1629)
8725 Ewing Blvd., Florence, KY 41042-2737
Phone: 859-525-3200 X229
Personal Safety (Council on Child Abuse of Southern Ohio, Inc.)
Personal Safety (Grades K-8)
Bullying (Grades K-8)
Healthy Relationships (Grades 9-12)(Limited Availability)
Ms. Amelia Orr, Executive Director
Ms. Kathleen Cave, Program Director
4531 Reading Road, Cincinnati OH 45229
Phone: 513-684-7976
Everyone Deserves Dignity
Ms. Julie Feinauer
For Grades 9-12
Contact: St Henry District High School
Phone: 859-525-0255
Lesson Plans for Catholic Schools
Play Like a Champion Parent Letter & Sign-Up Instructions
Before your school hosts a Parent Like a Champion training session for parents, the letter below and sign-up directions should be sent to each parent. It explains when the training is going to be held and the importance of their participation in the Play Like a Champion athletic program as well as how to sign up for a parent session.
How to use the program
School Introduction to Lesson Plans
School Policy & Resource List
School lesson plan Pre-K
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for preschool children ages 3, 4 and 5.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
School lesson plan Kindergarten
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for kindergartners.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
School lesson plan Grade 1
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for children in grade 1.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
School lesson plan Grade 2
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for children in grade 2.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
School lesson plan Grade 3
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for children in Grade 3.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
School lesson plan Grade 4
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for children in Grade 4.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
School lesson plan Grade 5
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for children in Grade 5.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
School lesson plan Grade 6
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for children in Grade 6.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
School lesson plan Grade 7
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for children in Grade 7.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
School lesson plan Grade 8
The following Safe Environment lesson plans have been approved for use in the Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Covington and have been developed for children in Grade 8.
It is recommended that each lesson be taught to each age level every year.
Lesson Plan Grades 9-12
School Lesson Plan Grades 9-12
“Everyone Deserves Dignity”
Julie Feinauer is approved to present a sexual abuse prevention training for grades 9-12.
Contact: St. Henry District High School (859-525-0255)