Our Lady of Joy Parish

A Pennsylvania Charitable Trust

2000 O’Block Road Pittsburgh, PA 15239 (Holiday Park)

(412) 795-3388

A Faith Community of Roman Catholics

Hello to all Volunteers at Our Lady of Joy,

This letter contains information on clearances and may contain one or more of the following clearances needed to volunteer here at Our Lady of Joy. Only those documents you need are included in your letter.

All Church Personnel and Volunteers are required to obtain certain certifications and background checks as set forth below. We are taking reasonable measures to assure that Church Personnel and Volunteers comply with all Diocesan required certifications and background checks with the purpose of providing a safe environment for Children. There have been new requirements instituted by the Diocese, as well, some volunteers need a renewal of clearances (Child abuse clearances need renewed every five years).

Please read, sign and return any forms being sent to you and please complete any online certifications needed so that your clearances will be complete. (The parish will mail and cover any fees for volunteers)

REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECKS AND CERTIFICATIONS

1)PA State Police Criminal Record Background Check (Done at time of Diocese Database Application)

2)PA Department of Human Services Report (Child Abuse) (Return form - we will mail for you)

3)FBI Criminal History Report (Fingerprinting) (Read exceptions below)(Only if employee or not in PA 5yr)

Exception to FBI Fingerprinting – A Volunteer may be excused from the FBI Criminal History Report requirement if he or she has been a Pennsylvania resident continuously for the previous 10 years, has not been convicted of a “Disqualifying Offense” as listed below and signs a Volunteer Disclosure Statement Application. Volunteers who are current residents of Pennsylvania (but have not been residents for the entire 10 years prior) need only obtain an FBI Criminal History Report once at any time since establishing residency in Pennsylvania and, thereafter, must complete a Volunteer Disclosure Statement Application Form.

4)Database Application (online) (Return form)

5)Diocesan Code of Pastoral Conduct Acknowledgement (Return form)

6)Reporting of Child Abuse and the Child Protective Services Law of Pennsylvania Acknowledgement (return form)

7)Protecting God’s Children Class (Virtus – online or live class) (Return certificate of completion)

8)Mandated Reporter Training (MRT) Online or Live Class. (Return certificate of completion) Only those in ministries listed in Appendix D on the back are required to have the MRT clearance.

9)Disclosure/Waiver Statement (Return form)

So to recap if you are a volunteer you must have all the above clearances completed to serve in your ministry. If you are a lead in your ministry and have gained any new volunteers, you must contact Maureen in the Rel. Ed. Office to obtain a clearance packet for the new volunteer to complete.

Again, all volunteers are receivingthe necessary forms to have their clearances up to date. We ask that you please return the signed and dated forms to Maureen at the Religious Education Office in the enclosed envelope.

We greatly appreciate and thank you for your time to provide these clearances. Thank you for all you dofor the Church, and for helping to ensure that our parishes, schools and ministries are safe environments for our children. Please contact Maureen in the religious education office with any questions at 412-795-4389.

MRT Mandated Reporter Training

It is “only” the job profiles in Appendix D (see below) that are required to take the MRT class. It’s not a matter of whether they are an employee or a volunteer, it’s their ministry which dictates the requirement.Please do not have other profiles take the class on-line or a live session!!!

1.Altar Server – Adult

2.Athletic Coach-Trainer/Volunteer

3.Bus Drive

4.Cafeteria Worker

5.Catechetical Administrator

6.Catechist-Summer Bible School-Children Liturgy of the Word

7.Catechist Aide

8.Catholic Committee on Scouting Leader/Volunteer

9.Chaperone

10.All Clergy and Religious

a.Deacon-Permanent/Transitional

b.Diocesan Bishops

c.Diocesan Priest Incardinated in the Diocese and on

d.Assignment or Retired in the Diocese

e.Diocesan Priest not Incardinated in the Diocese, on

f.Assignment or in Residence in the Diocese

g.Seminarians

h.Religious Men and Women on Assignment in the Diocese

11.Childcare Giver (e.g. cry room, pre-/afterschool program,

babysitter, etc.)

12.Music Ministry Staff, Paid and Volunteer (Music Minister/Choir Director/Organist only!)

13.Parish Nurse

14.Parish Safe Environment Coordinator

15.Parish Social Minister

16.Pastoral Associate/Minister

17.Pastoral Healthcare Minister

18.Playground Monitor

19.Preschool Administrator/Aide

20.Sacristan Trainer – Youth Altar Servers and/or Lectors

21.School Employees (includes Maintenance/Janitor for the school)

22.School Volunteers

23.Youth Ministry Volunteers/Employees

Mandated Reporter Training (Act 31)

Is an additional clearance requirement

It is now mandatory that all church volunteers listed on the back (Appendix D) take the Mandated and Permissive Training Course (MRT). This course is available online or you may register for a live class. Below is the address link for the Mandated Reporter Training offered by the University of Pittsburgh. You need to register first, and then complete the course. It will take a while to complete this training but you may do it in intervals, you do not have to complete it in one sitting, it will return you to where you left off when you log back in. At the completion of the course you will be able to print a certificate of completion. Please print the certificate and return a copy to Maureen in the Rel. Ed. Office.

Thank you.

To register and begin the class you can follow the link on Our Lady of Joy web site at ourladyofjoy.org or on the Diocese of Pittsburgh web site at diopitt.org. The link provided will take you to the page to register to begin the online class.

Once on the “MRT” Pennsylvania Child Resource Center home page, look in the middle of the page in the blue line you will see “Welcome” and “Registration” in white lettering. Click on “Registration” complete and then click on submit. It will automatically assign you a user name and password. Click on “Click here to log in.” Using the assigned username and password, log in and then click on the link in “Your Courses.” Begin the session. Again, you may log out and return any time as often as you need to complete the training. Once the training is completed please print the certificate and return to Maureen in the Rel. Ed. Office.

You may also get to the training page by entering in the following link, but I recommend going directly to the ourladyofjoy.org or diopitt.org and following the link there.

The following link will take you to “MRT” Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center from the University of Pittsburgh where you can complete the training. Just copy the following into your search engine.

If you are not computer savvy and would prefer to take a live class, that option is now available. The Diocese is continually posting available classes through “Signup Genius.” A link for “Signup Genius” can be found on Our Lady of Joy web page at ourladyofjoy.org If you follow this link on your computer you will see all the available classes throughout the Diocese. The link to Signup Genius is

Sign up is on a first come, first served basis and there are only 50 spaces in each session. OUR LADY OF JOY IS SCHEDULED FOR A LIVE “MRT” TRAINING SESSION ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 20TH 9AM-12NOON . You must register online at Signup Genius – again the link is on both ourladyofjoy.org and diopitt.org home pages.

The classes whether on line or live will take approximately three hours to complete. Again, please keep an eye on the bulletin for any live “MRT” class training sessions available and continue to check Signup Genius.

Please contact Maureen Leistner in the Religious Education Office at 412-795-4389 with any questions. Thank you again for your cooperation.

1.Altar Server – Adult

2.Athletic Coach-Trainer/Volunteer

3.Bus Drive

4.Cafeteria Worker

5.Catechetical Administrator

6.Catechist-Summer Bible School-Children Liturgy of the Word

7.Catechist Aide

8.Catholic Committee on Scouting Leader/Volunteer

9.Chaperone

10.All Clergy and Religious

a.Deacon-Permanent/Transitional

b.Diocesan Bishops

c.Diocesan Priest Incardinated in the Diocese and on

d.Assignment or Retired in the Diocese

e.Diocesan Priest not Incardinated in the Diocese, on

f.Assignment or in Residence in the Diocese

g.Seminarians

h.Religious Men and Women on Assignment in the Diocese

11.Childcare Giver (e.g. cry room, pre-/afterschool program,

babysitter, etc.)

12.Music Ministry Staff, Paid and Volunteer (Music Minister/Choir Director/Organist only!)

13.Parish Nurse

14.Parish Safe Environment Coordinator

15.Parish Social Minister

16.Pastoral Associate/Minister

17.Pastoral Healthcare Minister

18.Playground Monitor

19.Preschool Administrator/Aide

20.Sacristan Trainer – Youth Altar Servers and/or Lectors

21.School Employees (includes Maintenance/Janitor for the school)

22.School Volunteers

23.Youth Ministry Volunteers/Employees

DIOCESE OFPITTSBURGH

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT APPLICATION FORVOLUNTEERS

Required by theChildProtectiveServiceLaw

23 Pa. C.S. Section 6344.2

(relating to volunteershaving contact with children)

I swear/affirmthatIamseekingavolunteerpositionandAMNOTrequiredtoobtaina backgroundcheck through the FederalBureau ofInvestigation, as:

the positionIam applyingfor is unpaid;and
Ihavebeen aresident ofPennsylvaniaduringtheentiretyof theprevious ten-year period.

Iswear/affirmthatIhaveNEVERbeennamedasaperpetratorofafoundedreportofchild abusewithin the past five(5)years as defined bytheChild ProtectiveServicesLaw.

I swear/affirmthatI haveNEVERbeenconvictedofany ofthefollowingcrimesunderTitle18 ofthePennsylvaniaconsolidatedstatuesorofoffensessimilarinnaturetothosecrimesunder thelawsorformerlawsoftheUnited States oroneofitsterritoriesorpossessions,another state, theDistrictofColumbia,theCommonwealthofPuertoRico

oraforeignnation,orundera formerlawof this Commonwealth:

Chapter25 (relatingtocriminal homicide) Section 2702 (relatingtoaggravated assault) Section 2709 (relatingtostalking)

Section 2901 (relatingtokidnapping) Section 2902 (relatingtounlawful restraint) Section 3121 (relatingtorape)

Section 3122.1 (relatingto statutorysexual assault)

Section 3123 (relatingtoinvoluntarydeviate sexual intercourse) Section 3124.1 (relatingto sexualassault)

Section 3125 (relatingtoaggravated indecent assault) Section 3126 (relatingtoindecent assault)

Section 3127 (relatingtoindecent exposure) Section 4302 (relatingtoincest)

Section 4303 (relatingtoconcealingdeath of child) Section 4304 (relatingtoendangering welfareof children) Section 4305 (relatingtodealingin infant children)

Section 5902(b) (relating to prostitution and related offenses)

Section 5903(c) or(d)(relatingto obscene and other sexual material and performances) Section 6301 (relatingtocorruption of minors)

Section 6312 (relatingtosexual abuseof children), or an equivalentcrimeunderFederal lawor thelawof anotherstate.

Iswear/affirmthatIhavenotbeenconvictedofafelony offenseunderAct64-1972(relatingto the controlled substance,drugdeviceand cosmeticact) committed within thepast fiveyears.

IunderstandthatIshallnotbe approvedfor service ifIamnamedasa perpetratorofa founded reportofchildabuseorhavebeenconvictedofanyofthecrimeslistedaboveorofoffenses similarinnaturetothose crimesunderthelawsorformerlawsoftheUnitedStatesoroneofits territoriesor possessions,another state,the Districtof Columbia, the Commonwealthof Puerto Rico ora foreign nation, orunder a former law ofthis Commonwealth.

I understandthatifI amarrestedfororconvictedofanoffensethatwouldconstitutegroundsfor denyingparticipationinaprogram,activityorserviceundertheChildProtectiveServicesLaw aslistedabove,oramnamedasperpetratorinafoundedorindicatedreport,I mustprovidethe administratorordesigneewithwrittennoticenotlaterthan72hoursafterthearrest,conviction ornotification thatIhavebeen listed as a perpetratorin theStatewidedatabase.

Iunderstandthatifthepersonresponsibleforemploymentdecisionsortheadministratorofa program, activityor servicehasareasonable beliefthatIwas arrestedorconvicted foran offense thatwouldconstitutegroundsfordenyingemploymentorparticipationinaprogram,activity or service under theChild Protective ServicesLaw,or wasnamedasperpetratorina foundedor indicatedreport,orI haveprovidednoticeasrequiredunderthissection,thepersonresponsible foremploymentdecisionsoradministratorofaprogram,activityorserviceshallimmediately require metosubmitcurrentbackgroundchecksobtainedthroughtheDepartmentof Human Services,the Pennsylvania State Police,andthe FederalBureauofInvestigation.Thecostof backgroundchecks shallbebornebytheemployingentityor program, activityor service.

IunderstandthatifIwillfully failtodiscloseinformationrequiredabove,Icommita misdemeanorofthethirddegreeandshallbesubjecttodisciplineup toandincludingdenialofa volunteer position.

I understandthatthepersonresponsibleforemploymentdecisionsortheadministratorofa program, activityor serviceis required to maintain a copyof mybackground checks.

IHEREBY SWEAR/AFFIRMTHATTHEINFORMATIONASSET FORTHABOVEISTRUEAND CORRECT.IUNDERSTANDTHAT FALSESWEARINGISAMISDEMEANORPURSUANTTOSECTION4903 OFTHECRIMES CODE.

Printed NameSignature

Witness Printed NameWitness Signature

Date:

Acknowledgement of ReceiptReporting of Child Abuse and the Child

Protective Services Law of Pennsylvania

In accordance with my role as Church personnel (paid/volunteer) and

acknowledging my responsibility as a citizen to abide by the laws of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in regard to reporting suspected cases

of child abuse, I acknowledge the following:

1. Abuse of a child can be physical, mental, sexual or harmful physical

neglect.

2. The reporting mandate is restricted to those minors (under 18)

under the care of a diocesan institution, parish, or school.

3. Mandated reporting is not restricted to first-hand observation only.

Second-hand reports must also be reported if there is "reasonable

cause to suspect" that child abuse has occurred.

4. I understand that my parish/school has a reporting protocol in place

which I will follow.

5. Reports of suspected child abuse are to made immediately to the 24

hour Child Abuse Hot Line. The toll-free number is 1-800-932-0313

6. I understand that a written report is to be made within 48 hours of

the telephone report.

7. I understand that school employees are subject to different reporting

procedures when the predator is another individual who works

in the school.

8. I understand that CPSL grants immunity from civil suits for those

(employees/volunteers) who make a "good faith" report of suspected

child abuse.

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ, UNDERSTAND,AND HEREBY COMMIT

TO FOLLOWING THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE CHILD PROTECTIVE

SERVICES LAW OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Name (Please print) Parish, ______

School, Office or Program ______

Signature ______

Position Date ______

Diocese of Pittsburgh

Acknowledgement of Receipt of the Code of Pastoral Conduct

In accord with my role as Church personnel, and in witness to theGospel of Jesus Christ, I will conduct myself with integrity, acting ina manner that is consistent with the discipline and teachings of theCatholic Church. I will guide my behavior by civil and canon law, bythe policies of the Diocese of Pittsburgh and by the Code of Pastoral

Conduct by…

1. Respecting the rights of each person and advancing his or her welfare during

the course of counseling, advising or spiritual direction.

2. Holding in the strictest confidence information disclosed during the course of

counseling, advising or spiritual direction.

3. Maintaining an open and trustworthy relationship when working with youth,

free from inappropriate behavior that would put them at risk.

4. Honoring the trust placed in Church personnel by not exploiting others for

sexual gain or intimacy.

5. Providing a professional work environment that is free from physical, psychological,

written or verbal intimidation or harassment.

6. Maintaining confidentiality in creating, storing, accessing, transferring and

disposing of Church records.

7. Avoiding situations that might present a conflict of interest.

8. Reporting to proper authorities my own ethical or professional misconduct and

the misconduct of others.

9. Treating Church personnel justly in the day-to-day operations of work and

ministry.

10. Being responsible for my own spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional

health.

I HAVE CAREFULLY READ, UNDERSTAND, AND HEREBY COMMIT TO

CONDUCTING MYSELF AS A PRIEST, DEACON, SEMINARIAN, CHURCH

EMPLOYEE OR VOLUNTEER IN ACCORD WITH THE DIOCESAN CODE

OF PASTORAL CONDUCT.

______

(Name) (Parish, School, Office or Program)

______

(Position) (Date)

RETURN ONE SIGNED ORIGINAL TO THE PARISH OR DIOCESE

AND KEEP THE OTHER COPY.

CHILDLINEANDABUSE REGISTRY

P.O.BOX 8170

HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA17105-8170

CONSENT/RELEASEOFINFORMATIONAUTHORIZATIONFORM

FORTHEPENNSYLVANIACHILDABUSEHISTORYCERTIFICATION

I,( ),hereby authorize the PADepartment ofHuman Sevices, ChildLine to

Applicant’s Name

release my Pennsylvania ChildAbuse History Clearance information directly to( Our Lady of Joy Parish ).

Name of RequestingAgency

I understand that this information is confidential in nature pursuant to §6339 (relating to information in confidential reports)

ofthe Child Protective Services Law (CPSL) (23 Pa.C.SChapter 63) and is not otherwise tobe released by

(Our Lady of Joy) without my expressed authorization or pursuant toSection 3490.126 of

Name of RequestingAgency

Title 55 of the Pennsylvania Code which states this information is confidential and the requesting agency can be held criminally liable for a breach of confidentiality related to release of this information. Ialsounderstandthat the

aforementionedinformationwillnotbereleased directly tome ( ) as stated

Applicant’s Name

on the Pennsylvania ChildAbuse History Certification application.I understand that I will not receive a copy of my Pennsylvania ChildAbuse History Certification directly from ChildLine; however, I may request a copy of

my Pennsylvania ChildAbuse History Certification from ( Our Lady of Joy ) upon written request.

Name of RequestingAgency

I have read this Consent/Release of InformationAuthorization form and fully understand and agree to its content.I further understand and agree to all information and ramifications of the Pennsylvania ChildAbuse History Certification application as it otherwise relates tothis consent. Further Iunderstand thatif Iam listed in the statewide database forchild abuse

that my consent allows the result stating such information to be shared with the agency/organization noted on next page.

Page 1 of 2

Pleasesendmycertificationresult(s)to:

Agency Name:

Our Lady of Joy parish

2000 O’Block Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15239

DateApplicant’s Signature

As the agency/organization representative, I understand that, except for the subject of a report, persons who receive this information are subject to the confidentiality provisions of the CPSL and 55 Pa. Code, Chapter 3490 and are required to ensure the confidentiality and security

of the information and are liable for civil and criminal penalties for releasing information

to persons who are not permitted access to this information. I agree to receive and maintain this information in accordance with these requirements.

Maureen L Leistner

DateAgency’s Representative Signature

NOTE: IF THE PENNSYLVANIACHILDABUSE HISTORYCERTIFICATION FORM/APPLICATION (CY113) IS NOT COMPLETEDACCURATELY OR IF IT IS INCOMPLETE, THE CY113 WILLBE RETURNED TO THEAPPLICANTAND NOT BACK TOATHIRD PARTY.

Revised 12-29-15