STANDARDS OF STANDARDS OF MINISTERIAL BEHAVIOR MINISTERIAL BEHAVIOR

AND BOUNDARIESAND BOUNDARIES

For Priests, Deacons, For Priests, Deacons, Religious, Pastoral Ministers, Religious, Pastoral Ministers,

Administrators, Teachers, Administrators, Teachers, Staff and VolunteersStaff and Volunteers

StandardsStandards There are guidelines for the boundaries of There are guidelines for the boundaries of

appropriate behavior in appropriate behavior in all all interactions with interactions with children and young people.children and young people.

Responsibility for adherence to the Standards of Responsibility for adherence to the Standards of Ministerial Behavior rests with the individual. Ministerial Behavior rests with the individual. Church Personnel who disregard the Standards will Church Personnel who disregard the Standards will be subject to remedial action by the Archdiocese.be subject to remedial action by the Archdiocese.

It is crucial to re-read the Standards for Ministerial It is crucial to re-read the Standards for Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries at least once a year. Behavior and Boundaries at least once a year. Failure to be unfamiliar with these standards does Failure to be unfamiliar with these standards does not relieve the adult from culpability. not relieve the adult from culpability.

Corrective ActionsCorrective Actions

May take various forms, including but May take various forms, including but not limited to a verbal reproach, not limited to a verbal reproach, termination of employment, or termination of employment, or removal from ministry, depending on removal from ministry, depending on the specific nature and the specific nature and circumstances of the offense and the circumstances of the offense and the extent of the harm.extent of the harm.

REPORTERS OF CHILD ABUSEREPORTERS OF CHILD ABUSE

MANDATED MANDATED REPORTERSREPORTERS

THOSE WHO THOSE WHO MUSTMUST REPORT: REPORT:

Pennsylvania LawPennsylvania Law

Pennsylvania law makes no Pennsylvania law makes no distinction between paid and non-distinction between paid and non-paid personnel. Accordingly, paid personnel. Accordingly, volunteers who come into volunteers who come into contact with children in the contact with children in the course of their volunteer duties course of their volunteer duties are mandated reporters.are mandated reporters.

Examples

Clergy Youth ministers Playground monitors

Parish and school personnel Child-care workers Foster-care workers

Teachers School nurses Social service workers

Catechists Athletic coaches School volunteers

Music ministers Classroom aidesAdministrators

How Is a Report Made?How Is a Report Made?

Those in paid or volunteer staff positions in any Those in paid or volunteer staff positions in any Church-related institution are Church-related institution are obligated to to immediately immediately notify the person in charge of the the person in charge of the institution (e.g., pastor, lead administrator in institution (e.g., pastor, lead administrator in the school (President or Principal), DRE when the school (President or Principal), DRE when child abuse is suspected. child abuse is suspected.

The person in charge will make the report. If The person in charge will make the report. If the person in charge of the institution is the the person in charge of the institution is the suspected abuser, the person with the suspected abuser, the person with the information must make the report.information must make the report.

Contact InformationContact Information

PA Child Abuse Hotline PA Child Abuse Hotline 1-800-932-03131-800-932-0313

Archdiocesan Office for Children and Archdiocesan Office for Children and Youth Protection Youth Protection 1-888-800-87801-888-800-8780 (if the (if the suspected abuser is a church official, suspected abuser is a church official, employee or volunteer call both employee or volunteer call both numbers)numbers)

Office of Catholic Education Office of Catholic Education 215-587-215-587-37003700

Penalties for Failure to ReportPenalties for Failure to Report

A person or official required to report a A person or official required to report a case of suspected child abuse who case of suspected child abuse who willfully fails to do so commits a willfully fails to do so commits a summary offense for the first violation summary offense for the first violation and a misdemeanor of the third degree and a misdemeanor of the third degree for a second or subsequent violation.for a second or subsequent violation.

Summary offense: fine and possible Summary offense: fine and possible jail jail time time

All School Personnel and All School Personnel and VolunteersVolunteers

Re-read the Standards for Ministerial Behavior and Re-read the Standards for Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries ~ pages 5 through 8Boundaries ~ pages 5 through 8

A copy of the Standards can be downloaded from A copy of the Standards can be downloaded from www.archdiocese-phl.orgwww.archdiocese-phl.org website website

Double check your original copies:Double check your original copies: Police Check (updated every five years)Police Check (updated every five years) Child Abuse Clearance (updated every five years)Child Abuse Clearance (updated every five years) FBI check (if not a PA resident) or hired after 4/1/07 (updated FBI check (if not a PA resident) or hired after 4/1/07 (updated

every five years)every five years) Signature sheet from attendance at Child Abuse Prevention Signature sheet from attendance at Child Abuse Prevention

Training and acceptance of the Standards for Ministerial Training and acceptance of the Standards for Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries; employee must always retain a Behavior and Boundaries; employee must always retain a copy of proof of attendance at the training sessioncopy of proof of attendance at the training session

*Copies should be on file in the Rectory (elementary), OCE *Copies should be on file in the Rectory (elementary), OCE (secondary and special education) (secondary and special education) andand in the teacher file in in the teacher file in the secured files in the office of the principal in the school.the secured files in the office of the principal in the school.

Moral and Ethical ObligationMoral and Ethical Obligation

Our Catholic Our Catholic teaching and teaching and tradition calls us to tradition calls us to be advocates for be advocates for those who are those who are powerless and most powerless and most vulnerable. We have vulnerable. We have a moral, ethical and a moral, ethical and legal obligation to legal obligation to report report suspectedsuspected or or actualactual child abuse. child abuse.

ReminderReminder If, in the course of your If, in the course of your

service in a parish or service in a parish or school you encounter school you encounter anyone who has anyone who has experienced sexual experienced sexual abuse by a abuse by a representative of the representative of the Archdiocese of Archdiocese of Philadelphia, please Philadelphia, please encourage them to encourage them to contact the Victims’ contact the Victims’ Assistance Coordinator Assistance Coordinator at at 1-888-800-8780. . Thank you!Thank you!

Reporting AbuseReporting Abuse Please call the Office of Catholic Education Please call the Office of Catholic Education

to report the steps you are taking and to to report the steps you are taking and to seek further guidance throughout the seek further guidance throughout the process:process:

Elementary 215-587-3743Elementary 215-587-3743 Secondary 215-587-2415Secondary 215-587-2415 Special Ed. 215-587-3586Special Ed. 215-587-3586 Child Line 1-800-932-0313Child Line 1-800-932-0313 Office of Child and Youth Protection:Office of Child and Youth Protection: 1-888-800-87801-888-800-8780Complete the Incident Report prescribed by Complete the Incident Report prescribed by

the OCE within 24 hours of the report.the OCE within 24 hours of the report.

Professional BoundariesProfessional Boundaries

The relationship between an adult representing The relationship between an adult representing the school in any position and a student attending the school in any position and a student attending the school isthe school is Friendly but professionalFriendly but professional Frank but considerateFrank but considerate Helpful but non-invasiveHelpful but non-invasive

Regardless of the age of students, adults Regardless of the age of students, adults representing the school in any position are in a representing the school in any position are in a position of trust and should never cross position of trust and should never cross professional boundaries.professional boundaries.

Unacceptable BehaviorsUnacceptable Behaviors Too personally involved with students – friend, confidant, surrogate Too personally involved with students – friend, confidant, surrogate

parentparent Seeing students in private or non-school settingsSeeing students in private or non-school settings Writing or exchanging notes, letters, emails Writing or exchanging notes, letters, emails Serving as confidant with regard to student’s decision about personal Serving as confidant with regard to student’s decision about personal

issuesissues Giving gifts or money to studentsGiving gifts or money to students Inviting students to your home or vacation homeInviting students to your home or vacation home Having students overnight in your home or vacation homeHaving students overnight in your home or vacation home Driving individual students to and from schoolDriving individual students to and from school Giving one student unique attentionGiving one student unique attention Being alone with a student Being alone with a student Sharing personal problems or information with a studentSharing personal problems or information with a student Initiating physical contact or accepting physical contactInitiating physical contact or accepting physical contact Intimidating, harassing or “picking on” a student for any reasonIntimidating, harassing or “picking on” a student for any reason

*This list is to establish examples and is not to be considered exhaustive*This list is to establish examples and is not to be considered exhaustive

Protective StrategiesProtective Strategies Learn about the law and your liability as an adult working with Learn about the law and your liability as an adult working with

studentsstudents Keep the door open to a room you are in and NEVER have the Keep the door open to a room you are in and NEVER have the

classroom door windows covered with material of any kindclassroom door windows covered with material of any kind Compliment or commend a student but do not hug or touchCompliment or commend a student but do not hug or touch Be aware of boundary violations and report any reasonable Be aware of boundary violations and report any reasonable

suspiciion of child abuse to proper authoritiessuspiciion of child abuse to proper authorities Clarify procedures with your school leadership but do not be afraid Clarify procedures with your school leadership but do not be afraid

to correct inappropriate behaviorto correct inappropriate behavior Get parents and principals approval for all activities off school Get parents and principals approval for all activities off school

propertyproperty Let students know when they are overstepping personal Let students know when they are overstepping personal

boundariesboundaries Seek input form colleagues or other professionals if you are Seek input form colleagues or other professionals if you are

unsure of the appropriateness of your actions or plansunsure of the appropriateness of your actions or plans

Uses of TechnologyUses of Technology

Respecting boundaries is an important part Respecting boundaries is an important part of the Safe Environment Program, both in of the Safe Environment Program, both in face to face interactions and when using face to face interactions and when using technology. Respect for boundaries shows a technology. Respect for boundaries shows a child:child:

how a trustworthy adult interacts with themhow a trustworthy adult interacts with them what a healthy relationship with an adult is what a healthy relationship with an adult is

supposed to look likesupposed to look like the adult leader’s commitment to the the adult leader’s commitment to the

child’s psychological, emotional and child’s psychological, emotional and physical well-beingphysical well-being

Uses of TechnologyUses of Technology

Adult leaders must obtain the Adult leaders must obtain the permission of a parent or guardian to permission of a parent or guardian to contact children by email and social contact children by email and social network sites, etc.network sites, etc.

Text messaging to students is Text messaging to students is FORBIDDENFORBIDDEN

in our schoolsin our schools

Uses of TechnologyUses of Technology

Using the “blind copy” option when Using the “blind copy” option when sending a message to a group helps sending a message to a group helps to protect the privacy of children to protect the privacy of children by:by:

not sharing their contact not sharing their contact information with others who are information with others who are receiving the same messagereceiving the same message

Use of TechnologyUse of Technology When using a social networking site to When using a social networking site to

communicate with minors, what is an communicate with minors, what is an important consideration:important consideration:

obtaining permission from the pastor, obtaining permission from the pastor, administrator or immediate supervisor to administrator or immediate supervisor to establish a social networking account/group establish a social networking account/group related to the parish, school or organizationrelated to the parish, school or organization

changing the privacy setting on the account changing the privacy setting on the account to insure maximum privacy for anyone who to insure maximum privacy for anyone who has access to the pagehas access to the page

not allowing minors access to the personal not allowing minors access to the personal information that you share with your family information that you share with your family and friendsand friends

Uses of TechnologyUses of Technology

If a minor sends an adult leader an If a minor sends an adult leader an inappropriate message, the adult leader inappropriate message, the adult leader should copy the communication and should copy the communication and show it to their supervisor (pastor, show it to their supervisor (pastor, principal, DRE)principal, DRE)

The owner of a blog should set it up so The owner of a blog should set it up so that all comments are reviewed and that all comments are reviewed and approved before they are posted. This approved before they are posted. This practice prevents inappropriate or hurtful practice prevents inappropriate or hurtful comments. (i.e cyber-bullying) comments. (i.e cyber-bullying)

Uses of TechnologyUses of Technology

An adult leader may post pictures An adult leader may post pictures and videos of minors only when:and videos of minors only when:

a parent or guardian provides a parent or guardian provides permissionpermission

all personal information has been all personal information has been edited for safety/privacy purposesedited for safety/privacy purposes

the activity is related to the parish the activity is related to the parish or school ministryor school ministry

Uses of TechnologyUses of Technology

FALSE…FALSE…

There are different criteria for There are different criteria for reporting the suspected abuse reporting the suspected abuse of a child learned through the of a child learned through the

use of technology.use of technology.