As a Diocese, we are always trying to improve and make more available our safety education and prevention programs. It is with this in mind that we are expanding our use of the Internet and have a selected Armatus through Praesidium as our Safe Environment Training provider.

There are required courses to be taken by all employees of the Diocese and volunteers depending upon the ministry.

Each Diocesan parish, school or administrative office will have at their location information how to log on to Armatus to complete these required courses. If at anytime you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call the Office of Safe Environment at 850-435-3570.

Call the Florida’s Abuse Hotline at
1-800-96-ABUSE (1-800-962-2873)
Or, if a child is in immediate danger,
call your local police or sheriff

*Please see your Parish Safe Environment Manager for the informational flyer that contains necessary volunteer information and the special Fieldprint codes needed to complete your fingerprinting process.  

Why a Level 2 Criminal Background Search? What do you check? Is my information kept private?
These are just some of the questions the Office of Safe Environment is asked.

Security of personal information:
Ensuring a safe environment is not just for the children and vulnerable adults. The Diocese will always keep private information of all employees and volunteers secured.  All paper files are kept in a secure file cabinate within a locked room.  Our files online are encrypted and password protected.  When documents containing sensitive/ personal information are no longer needed they are shredded.

What does a Level 2 Criminal Background Search reveal:
A Level 2 CBS includes:
1.A statewide criminal and juvenile records check through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and
2.Federal criminal records check through the Federal Bureau of Investigations.  
3.A check of the Florida Crime Information Center for warrants and domestic violence injunctions/protection orders, deported felons, missing persons, probation/supervision release status, career criminal offender and the National Sexual predators and Offender’s registry list

Appeal Procedures and  Appeals form

The Province of Miami Policy on Safe Environment Educational Programs: explains the principles to be taught to all parents, guardians, children and youths on a systematic basis in all dioceses of the province. 

 

Christ Our Redeemer Safe Environment Coordinator

Karen Booth - [email protected]
 

"We bishops and eparchs must tenaciously maintain our commitment to the Charter mandates to ensure that children and youth are safe and that the victims of clergy sex abuse are able to heal from the effects of sexual abuse by representatives of the Church. Much progress has been made by the Catholic Church in addressing the impact of clergy sexual abuse of minors, but continued vigilance is a must.”                                     

Cardinal Francis George, President United States Conference of Catholic Bishops