Clearances

The safety of our students is a priority at ABVM Parish and School. Offering your time and talents is invaluable and we are so grateful for your help. On April 14, 2016, the Office for Child and Youth Protection updated their Archdiocesan policy and procedures to be in line with changes in Pennsylvania law. Clearances must now fe filed every 5 years. To provide our children with the safest environment, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia requires all volunteers to complete the following step:

1.  PA Police Check: All volunteers must complete a PA Criminal Background Check which is valid for 5 years. New this year, this check is now free for volunteers.

2.  PA Child Abuse History Check: All volunteers must complete a PA Child Abuse History Check which is valid for 5 years. New this year, this check is now free for volunteers.

3. Federal Criminal History Report/FBI Fingerprinting: A Federal Criminal History Report/FBI Fingerprinting is required of all staff and volunteers who have not been a PA resident for 10 consecutive years. This is valid for 5 years. (For school volunteers, select Department of Education. For parish volunteers, select Department of Human Services.)

4. Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers: Volunteers who have lived in PA for 10 years or more and do not have FBI fingerprints must print and sign this form and return to the Parish Office. This is valid for 5 years.

5. Safe Environment Training Workshop:  All volunteers must attend a Safe Environment Training Workshop. The schedule for the Safe Environment classes can be found on the archdiocesan website.  You may enroll for a class online at www.virtus.org.  Please return a copy of the class certification to the school office. This is only required once. Assumption BVM Parish holds classes periodically throughout the year.

6. Technology Addendum: Volunteers who attended the Safe Environment Training Workshop prior to July 1, 2011 must complete the Technology Addendum Acknowledgement Form.

7. Mandated Reporter Training: All volunteers must take this online course and is only required to be completed once.

8. Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement Form: Volunteers who took the Mandated Reporter Training prior to November 2014 must print and sign this form and return to the Parish Office. This form can be found under Documents.

9. Arrest/Conviction Report and Certification Form: Volunteers need to disclose any arrest or conviction with 72 hours to Assumption BVM Parish.

Once you have completed these steps, please submit all paperwork to the Parish Office. If you are a current volunteer and are not sure if your clearances are expired with the new 5 year law, please contact the Parish Office at 610-869-2722 or ABVM@comcast.net.

Thank you very much for taking the extra time to complete all necessary forms and attending the trainings.