Safe Environment
Creating a Safe Environment
“Let me be clear: we must understand sexual abuse, whether by clergy or others, is still a present reality in society. This requires a proper vigilance and the necessity to follow through with safe environment protocols to ensure our children and youth grow and flourish in a healthy Church environment and a societal culture that protects the vulnerable.”
— Bishop W. Shawn McKnight
All Catholics in our diocese are encouraged to learn how to identify the signs of grooming behavior and other ways they can help our children and vulnerable adults be safe from abuse. In the Diocese of Jefferson City, every person who works or volunteers for the Church in a setting with children must undergo a background check and receive "safe environment" training. This is just one way our Office of Child and Youth Protection is coordinating our efforts to prevent abuse; here are four important means:
Creating safe environments
Every person who works or volunteers for the Church in a setting with children must undergo a background check and receive training on "safe environment." This means nearly 18,000 people in our diocese know the warning signs of predatory behavior, know the diocese’s code of conduct, and know how to report suspicious activity of anyone who might want to harm children.
Reporting abuses
If you or someone you know has been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church, believe in the possibility for hope, help, and healing.
Please contact our Victim Assistance Coordinator at 573-694-3199 or reportabuse@diojeffcity.org. Also contact the Missouri Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-3738 or the Missouri Adult Abuse & Neglect Hotline at 1-800-392-0210.
Click here to report sexual abuse or related misconduct by a bishop.
Thoroughly investigating reports of abuse
Every allegation of abuse by someone representing the Catholic Church, whether it concerns a minor or an adult, is reviewed by an independent group of professionals.
The bishop has used a confidential consultative body, or Review Board, since 1991. The bishop relies on their recommendations to determine how to respond to allegations of sexual misconduct or abuse.
Improving standards for clergy
Every candidate for the priesthood and diaconate undergoes a thorough investigation and formation. Seminarians and diaconal candidates for the Diocese of Jefferson City are required to undergo psychological screening, receive safe environment training and criminal record checks, and receive formation in psychosexual development.
Safe Environment Training
To begin the process of completing your training in safe environment, go to www.virtus.org and create an account.
Within the Virtus website you will be able to register for safe environment training (in person or online), read and consent to the Pastoral Code of Conduct and consent to the background screening applicable to your role (see diocesan policies for more information).
See our tutorial video on the Diocese of Jefferson City Safe Environment website for more information on how you can create your account in Virtus.
Improved Safe Environment Policies
In the fall of 2020, safe environment policies were updated to strengthen how our diocese is protecting the vulnerable among us by training employees, priests, deacons, and religious, adults, youth, and volunteers in our parishes, including our schools.
Click here to access all policies, codes of conduct and other resources.
Please keep in mind that involvement in church-related activities is not defined as volunteering (e.g., participating in a quilting group, altar society meetings, or attending Mass or devotions). These forms of participation may be contributing to the mission of the church, but they are not strictly forms of volunteering in regards to our safe environment policies.
For single-occasion volunteers, we have an easy-to-use form to streamline your compliance. Please click here to fill out the Single Occasion Volunteer Form.
Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities
In the Safe Environment Policies, the definition of "volunteer" is anyone who serves the mission of the Church with no expectation of being paid.
We categorize three types of volunteers:
Volunteers whose duties involve contact with minors:
All volunteers whose duties involve contact with minors must accomplish the following prior to volunteering:
- Complete a Protecting God’s Children (Virtus) workshop in person or online
- Agree to a national background screening that evaluates any history related to criminal charges, and agree to regular rescreening every three months
- Read and consent to the Code of Pastoral Conduct
Effective July 1, 2021, all K-8 Catholic school parents will be required to complete these requirements. In some instances, parents may be exempt from some requirements. These instances must be approved through the diocesan Catholic Schools Office and the diocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection.
Citation: Section 1.2 of the Safe Environment Policy, p. 6
Volunteers whose duties do not involve contact with minors:
All volunteers whose duties do not involve contact with minors must accomplish the following prior to volunteering in any church related activities:
- Complete a Protecting God’s Children (Virtus) workshop in person or online
- Complete a check through the National Sex Offender Registry
- Read and consent to the Code of Pastoral Conduct.
1.3.1. This category of Volunteer must be accompanied at all times by someone who has completed all requirements for volunteers who work with minors (group 1.2)
- Citation: Section 1.3 of Safe Environment Policy, p. 6
Volunteers whose duties do not involve contact with minors, and who volunteer no more than ONCE per calendar year:
Volunteers who do not work with minors may be members of a council or committee (e.g., parish and finance councils, or stewardship committee), the officers of a parish organization (e.g., Altar Society or Men’s group), or certain volunteers for an event (e.g., at a parish picnic or fish fry when there is no involvement with minors during their service in the kitchen).
All volunteers whose duties do not involve contact with minors and who volunteer no more than one time per calendar year must accomplish the following prior to volunteering in any church related activities:
- Complete a check through the National Sex Offender Registry
- Read and consent to the single-use coded Code of Pastoral Conduct to indicate single occasion volunteer
1.4.1. This category of Volunteer must be accompanied at all times by someone who has completed all requirements for volunteers who work with minors (group 1.2)
- Citation: Safe Environment Policy, p. 6
Complete the Single-Occasion Volunteer Form:
This easy-to-use form streamlines your Safe Environment compliance: Please click here to fill out the Single Occasion Volunteer Form.
Other Resources
For the most updated Safe Environment contact information and accountability reporting, please visit the Diocese of Jefferson City Safe Environment website.
Quick-reference VIRTUS resources available for download:
Although contents on this page are updated routinely, please visit the Diocese of Jefferson City Safe Environment website for the most accurate information and resources.
- Teaching Boundaries and Safety Guide - provided by VIRTUS
- En Español: Teaching Boundaries and Safety Guide - provided by VIRTUS
- Teaching Touching Safety - provided by VIRTUS
- En Español: Teaching Touching Safety - provided by VIRTUS
- Teaching Safety - Empowering God's Children Program report form
USCCB Resources:
Click here to visit the USCCB Committee on Protection of Children & Young People website.
Click here to download the Charter for Protection of Young People from the USCCB in Spanish.