Protecting God's Children
Safe Environment Program
The purpose of the Safe environment Program is to create a safe environment for our children and for vulnerable adults.
The Archdiocese of St. Louis is committed to the prevention of abuse and to assisting those who are affected by incidents of abuse.
All adult employees and volunteers who have contact with minors and vulnerable adults must complete the following:
- Submit to a background screening
- Register and attend a Protecting God’s Children workshop*
- View two online training modules and agree to the Code of Ethical Conduct
*If you have previously attended a PGC workshop, the system will find and ask you to confirm your previous record of attendance. You will not be prompted to register for an upcoming workshop.
For General Assistance
314-792-7704 or 314-792-7272
The national sexual-abuse prevention program “Protecting God’s Children” was adopted by the Archdiocese of St. Louis in November 2002 and is provided at no cost to parishes, schools, and archdiocesan agencies. All archdiocesan employees and volunteers who work with children on a regular basis are mandated to attend a presentation of the program. Priests in the archdiocese also participate in the program.
Developed by National Catholic Services, “Protecting God’s Children” is a comprehensive two-and-one-half-hour program that includes two video presentations which incorporate stories from victims of sexual abuse and their families, who speak about the impact that the abuse has had on them. In addition, the videos feature testimony from perpetrators of child abuse, who tell how they selected their victims and how they made the victims feel that the abuse was their own fault. The program also provides information on how to prevent situations that can lead to abuse, on what behaviors should raise concern about abuse, and on how to report abuse.
Minors working with younger children will need to sign the
Archdiocese of St. Louis Commitment to
Ethical Conduct for Minors Volunteering or Working with Younger children. You are considered a minor if you are still in high school. Click here for form.
Victims of sexual abuse, in addition to contacting civil authorities, are asked to come forward in order to receive pastoral assistance. Reports of abuse may be made to any Pastor or to:
Sandra Price, Executive Director
Office of Child & Youth Protection
314-792-7271
sandraprice@archstl.org
Missouri Department of Social Services, Children’s Division
Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline:
1-800-392-3738
Missouri Department of Heath & Senior Services
Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline:
1-800-392-0210
