Back DIOCESE OF ALLENTOWN Protecting God's Children Program Frequently Asked Questions   Who should attend? All employees and any adult volunteer who comes into contact with a child for more than 15 –20 hours a year is required to attend this training. When is the training given? Individual parishes and parish organizations may schedule training for members of the school and parish. To do so, please call the Safe Environment Coordinator at 610-289-8900, extension 222, to arrange a meeting date and to receive the paperwork associated with hosting the meeting.  A list of training sessions is maintained on the Diocese of Allentown website: www.allentowndiocese.org.  Please click on “Protection of Youth” on the home page, then “Click here” next to the Calendar of Upcoming PGC Workshops to view the list of training sessions.  To sign up for a training session, please call the number listed next to the location.  Pre-registration is required for all training sessions. Does the program have a cost? There is no direct financial cost to host the program. However, it is appropriate for the host parish to provide snacks for the break during the presentation. Does the attendee receive verification of his/her attendance at a PGC program? At the conclusion of the program, all who attend receive a certificate of attendance. The employee/volunteer should retain this certificate. How does a pastor or principal know that the employee/volunteer has attended? The employee/volunteer should be able to produce the certificate of attendance to show to the pastor/ principal. If they have misplaced the certificate, they can contact the Safe Environment Coordinator’s office for a replacement.  Contact can also be made with the Safe Environment Coordinator’s assistant at 610-289-8900, extension 228. At every PGC training session, “sign-in sheets” are distributed. If a parish is not aware of who attended, they may obtain a copy of the “sign-in sheets” from the Safe Environment Coordinator.  If a volunteer attended at another parish, and the volunteer can provide the location where attended, it can be verified by review of the “sign-in” sheets. What paperwork is associated with this program? Every parish office should have the following information documented and included in the personnel files of staff and volunteers: § Criminal Background check § Child Abuse Check (employees only) § The last page of the Diocese of Allentown Code of Conduct policy signed by the employee/volunteer § The Signature Acknowledgement Form for the Diocese of Allentown Sexual Abuse Policy signed by the employee/volunteer § Documentation that the person attended the Protecting God’s Children program Are Boy Scout leaders, coaches and volunteers who are not Catholic required to attend the training? Yes.   Adult volunteers, regardless of faith, must attend the training, if during their scope and duties as a volunteer they come into contact with children for more than 15-20 hours a year. What should the pastor or principal do if a volunteer refuses to attend a session or to have the background check completed? The pastor or principal must terminate the adult’s position as a volunteer and not allow the adult to participate as a volunteer in any parish or school sponsored program in the parish or school that involves children.   Where can I find out more about Background Checks? All questions about background checks should be directed to the Human Resources Department at the Diocese of Allentown Temporal Affairs Office at 610-871-5200, extension 262. The Safe Environment Coordinator’s office does not keep records or maintain information about Background Checks.   Post Office Box F  •  Allentown, PA  •  18105-1538 Copyright 2003 The Catholic Diocese of Allentown Disclaimer and Terms of Use