Any group traveling with minors must ensure all adults (18 and over) in the group, including other participants, clergy, parish or school staff, volunteers, chaperones and parents:

• Are fingerprinted by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and verification of compliance is confirmed on VPIN (Volunteer and Personal Information Network).  Fingerprinting Office phone: (213) 637-7411.
  

• Comply with the VIRTUS® Safe Environment Training by:
  

• attending a VIRTUS® "Protecting God's Children" Adult Awareness session, or
  

• ​having a valid VIRTUS® Certificate dated within the past four years of their last session. Office of Safeguard the Children phone: (213) 637-7227.
  

• reviewing and signing the "Guidelines for Adults Interacting with Minors at Parish or Parish or Parish School Activities or Events."  Handbook section 13.5.4.

Minors must not be roomed with those 18 or over, unless they are with a parent or relative.
Copies of proof of Fingerprinting, current VIRTUS® Certificate, Guidelines for Adults, and Release of Liability must be on file with the sponsoring parish or school.

 
Requirements for Minors Under the Age Of 16

The Archdiocese strongly discourages bringing minors under 16 years of age to international events. However, if the sponsoring archdiocesan entity allows minors under the age of 16 to participate, the minor must be accompanied by a parent/guardian, or another family member (grandparent, aunt, uncle, or sibling) who is 21 years of age or older and is designated by the parent/guardian in a written, notarized document stating that the designated person has the authority to act "in loco parentis". This document is required in addition to all the other required documents. The accompanying family member/legal guardian must comply with all policies and procedures established by the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Requirements for Minors Aged 16 to 17 Traveling Without a Parent

• A parent or legal guardian must sign the "Student and Youth Activity Permission Form" which gives permission for the child to travel with the designated group.

• A parent or legal guardian must sign the "Medication Authorization and Permission Form" if the minor needs to take medication.

• Each Leader, Assistant and chaperone traveling with the group must accept in writing that he/she will have responsibility for the minors in the group.

• Minors traveling with the group must be informed which adult to contact if a concern arises.

• All minors shall sign a conduct agreement, which must include an acknowledgement by the minor and his/her parent/guardian that if the minor is sent home for any breach of the conduct agreement, the parent/guardian will be responsible for any and all costs associated with the transportation home.

Minors Aged 16 to 17 Traveling With a Parent

• If a minor is traveling with a parent or adult family member, then the parent or other family member shall assume the normal legal responsibility for that minor.

• If a parent or other adult family member is traveling with minors as part of a larger group, the adults in the family (meaning all members 18 or older) shall abide by the Requirements For Adults Traveling In A Group With Minors.

• If a family with minors is traveling as a family and not as a part of the official parish/school trip, the parents or other adult family member(s) shall be responsible for the minors and not the group Leaders or chaperones.

Age of Chaperones – Adult/Minor Ratio

• Chaperones and group leaders must be at least 21 years old (preferably 25).

• The adult/minor ratio must be at least 1 adult for every 5 minors.

Policies Related to World Youth Day

All policies stated above apply to World Youth Day, with the addition of these particular instructions:

• Participants must be 16 by the date established by World Youth Day to be a registered pilgrim and may be registered as a pilgrim of a parish/school group if the minor is traveling as part of a registered group for the whole period of attendance at World Youth Day.

• World Youth Day offers a variety of registration packages.  Groups with pilgrims 16-17 years old may not choose the simple accommodations package nor participate in Days in the Dioceses. These options involve the possibility of staying with local families or sharing rooming space with pilgrims from other groups.

• Minors may be registered as Pilgrims if they are traveling with one or both parents for the whole period of attendance at World Youth Day, including Days in the Dioceses (if they are participating).