The Archdiocese of Baltimore and Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church have a strong commitment to supporting healthy ministry to children and youth. “We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our environments are safer, our personnel are screened more closely, those who have abused children are removed, and our response to victims is swift and pastoral.”
Rev. Msgr. Richard Woy,
Former Chancellor – Archdiocese of Baltimore
STAND for Children & Youth is an Archdiocesan program designed to provide a safe environment for children and youth entrusted to the Church’s care. It is a program that will carry out background and reference checks on all volunteers who will have substantial contact with children.
**If you would like to participate and/or help in our School including, but not limited to,
classroom activities, field trips, Library and/or Cafeteria, you MUST be STAND Certified.**
Archdiocesan child protection policies and procedures require that the following be completed for all volunteers who have substantial contact with children with all required documents and placed in the volunteers' personnel files before they are permitted to have substantial contact with children:
New Volunteers
Please provide the following completed paperwork to Sacred Heart’s STAND Screening Coordinator. To obtain copies of the below paperwork, move cursor over the listed documents in BLUE, click on the link, and print out a copy.
a. Application is reviewed by appropriate Church personnel.
b. Please make sure that all sections are completed in its entirety.
c. Volunteer provides three (3) references. References are checked and documented by appropriate Church personnel prior to the start of volunteer service. If you previously volunteered or worked for another Archdiocesan parish or school, please provide your most recent supervisor at that archdiocesan entity.
d. Volunteer must review the Policy and Procedure Manual for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and the Code of Conduct for Church Personnel. Please click on these links to review these booklets. This is required for all volunteers over the age of 18.
e. Please make sure that you sign and date this Application.
STAND On-Line Training. To complete this training, you will need the information sheet which will walk you through the on-line training through the school’s website. Before linking to the Archdiocese webpage above, please print this information sheet which will provide the “username” and “password.” When you have completed this training, follow the instructions to print out your Certificate of Completion and provide the same tothe STAND Screening Coordinator to be signed and dated.
Please return all paperwork to the STAND Screening Coordinator in the Parish Office. When all paperwork is received, reference checks will be performed on all volunteers. The entire process could take approximately 2-4 weeks to complete. Once the screening is completed, you will receive a Policy Compliance Verification (STAND) card.
Current Volunteers
Renewing STAND status – As stated on your current STAND card, your certification expires five (5) years from the date of issuance. Please complete a Volunteer Select Criminal History Screening Consent Form and provide the same to the STAND Screening Coordinator. This process could take 1-2 weeks to complete. When this process is completed, a new STAND card will be issued.
VOLUNTEERS (Ages 14-17)
Volunteers between the ages of 14 and 17 years of age must receive age-appropriate child and youth protection training -- Worthy of the Call.A minor volunteer must complete the Application for Volunteer Service which is to be initialed by his/her parent or guardian. References must be provided. It is suggested that a teacher or pastor be listed under "Professional/Civic Reference."
Please contact the STAND Screening Coordinator for the next session of Worthy of the Call.
Children under the age of 14 do not need training and are considered to be doing Christian service. They may assist adults in providing childcare and any other volunteer service.
TRANSFERS
If you are transferring from another Archdiocesan parish or school, please contact the STAND Screening Coordinator for more information regarding your STAND status.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Should you have any questions or concerns regarding your STAND status, please contact Mary Lee McCusker, STAND Screening Coordinator, at (410)833-6877 or by e-mail at mmccusker@shgparish.org.
Revised 08/02/11