Each school and religious education program must establish an ongoing safe environment training program for the children at its site. Home-based materials must be provided to all parents to help them understand and support their children's education regarding child sexual abuse. The approved programs include Good-Touch/Bad-Touch® and VIRTUS® Teaching Touching Safety (Mandated September 1, 2006).

Good-Touch/Bad-Touch® is being implemented in Grades K-9 in Catholic elementary schools throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The program is designed to be age-appropriate, to support children in understanding occasions of abuse, and to give them confidence in reporting and asserting themselves in situations where they feel unsafe.

VIRTUS® Teaching Touching Safety is a K-12 program being implemented in religious education programs and Catholic schools. This program is a vehicle through which parents, teachers, catechists and youth ministers give children and young people the tools they need to protect themselves from those who might harm them.

The Archdiocesan Office of Safeguard the Children will work with principals at the schools and Directors of Religious Education in the parishes to establish these programs. During the 2007-2008-year, training is expected to reach most of the children in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Questions concerning this program can be forwarded to the Archdiocese department of safeguarding the Children.

Our Lady of Loretto’s LIST OF GUIDELINES for SAFEGUARDING the CHILDREN

Safeguarding the Children

Faculty, Staff, Parents and School Volunteers, in understanding their respective duties and responsibilities under state law and archdiocesan regulations, must be aware and must follow the guidelines to safeguard all students during hours of school operations at ALL TIMES. Continuing education, certification and application of well-defined rules for application must be done to ensure understanding and practice for the SAFETY of the CHILDREN. 

Adults in school bear a responsibility to protect our children, keep them safe, and give them a chance to live happy, fulfilling lives (2003 Child Abuse Prevention Book).

We re-affirm our deep commitment to creating a safe environment within the Church for children and youth. We, who have been given the responsibility of shepherding God’s people, will, with his help and in full collaboration with all the faithful, continue to work to restore the bonds of trust that unite us (2005 Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.) 

A List of Guidelines

1. Faculty and Staff must always supervise the students inside and outside the classroom when school activities are in operation.

(a) No student(s) will be left alone in the classroom or by the playground.

(b) All faculty and staff must always focus their attention on the students being supervised. The faculty and staff should not be engaged in other activities that would limit their concentration on supervision.

(c) No visitors, relatives, friends must be entertained during the time when students are being supervised.

(d) All Adult supervisors must need to see students even if the students are working outside of the classrooms, e.g. group dynamics.

(e) Teachers must strictly serve the assigned YARD DUTY schedule.

(f) Teachers must remain in their classrooms at all times, unless a personal emergency takes place, the teacher notifies adjacent teachers for brief supervision.

(g) Supervisors will identify for the children the specific areas for eating, playing and resting.

(h)  Students involved in the sports programs or any other extra-curricular activities during non-school days and off-premises events e.g. Academic Decathlon, Yearbook Committee, Student Council, Choir, Sports, etc. must be supervised.

(i). Unused rooms must be kept locked at all times.

(j). Administration assigns Staff to watch over children during PTO Back-to-School Orientation Night, Class Parent Representatives’ Meeting, etc.

2. Parents must supervise their children as soon as their presence is observed within the school premises like drop-off, pick-up and during school events.

1. Parents must not leave their child(ren) unattended. Parents must bring their children to the designated waiting areas, e.g., Lower Quadrangle before the morning assembly.

2. Parents must show cooperation by filling out forms on how students are to be picked up from school.

(c ) Parents are highly encouraged to accompany their children who are student athletes / extra-curricular activities during non-school days  and off-premises events e.g. Academic Decathlon, Yearbook Committee, Student Council, Choir, Sports, Carnival, October Fest, etc. 

(d) Students and Parents will be informed of the Good Touch/Bad Touch program for continuous awareness.

3. ALL Faculty and Staff must go through the Child Safety Programs (VIRTUS Training and the Good Touch/Bad Touch Program) used by our school and a special emphasis be placed on the awareness and use of Five (5) Steps to Safety.

PART One: A Time to Protect God’s Children (Staff must be made aware of…) 

• Signs of Child Sexual Abuse

• The Methods and Means by which offenders commit abuse.

PART Two: A Plan to Protect God’s Children (Staff must learn…) 

The FIVE IMPORTANT STEPS to SAFETY are to:

1. Know the Warning Signs

• All adult supervisors must know the boundary line between appropriate and inappropriate behavior.

2. Control Access

• Faculty, Staff, Volunteers must be finger-printed and must sign the Child Abuse Reporting Mandate Form & the Acknowledgement of Receipt of Guidelines for Adults Interacting with Minors at Parish/School Activities or Events

3. Monitor all Programs

• All programs for children are supervised by an adult.

4. Be Aware.

• Watch out for signs in the children through their way of dressing, hygiene and moods. A healthy suspicion has to be in and among kids. Any kind of abuse must be prevented.

5. Communicate your concerns.

• Any concerns or issues must be relayed and handled for proper identification, due process, and structured conversations about allegations. Reporting is an individual responsibility.
  
  

4. The administration will ensure the completion of background checks and required forms for signature from ALL Faculty, Staff, and School Volunteers. As a reference for checklist, followed are:

1. Fingerprinting

2. Child Abuse Report Mandate (Signed Document)

3. Acknowledgement of Receipt of Guidelines for Adults Interacting with Minors at Parish/School Activities or Events (Signed Document)

4. Administration’s Encoding and Update on VPIN (Volunteer /Personnel Information Network) – a database that enables the church, school and Archdiocese to track the screening, training and assignment history of employees and volunteers to help ensure the safety of our children.

e. Safe Environment Training for Children and Youth

1. Good Touch / Bad Touch Program

2. VIRTUS Training Touching Safety