Youth Protection Policy — plain-language summary

What you must complete before serving

1. Register each ministry year. Youth workers submit the annual Youth Worker Registration.
2. Read and acknowledge the policy. Read the official policy and sign that you understand and agree to follow it.
3. Complete the background check. You must pass the required screening before you begin.
4. Complete youth-safety training. Finish every assigned course and save the completion certificate.
5. Wait for approval. Do not begin serving until the parish coordinator confirms that every item is complete.

The policy states a three-year renewal cycle. The current official portal requires training at least once each calendar year. Follow its assigned training and renewal dates, and ask the coordinator to resolve any difference.

Keep youth activities visible and supervised

• Use two unrelated adult youth workers whenever possible.
• Avoid being alone with one youth. If a brief one-on-one conversation is necessary, tell another adult, stay visible, keep the door open, and keep it short.
• Allow parents, clergy, and church leaders to observe programs.
• Record attendance and use careful check-in and check-out procedures, especially for children age nine and younger.
• Keep unused rooms locked and active program rooms observable through an open door or window.

Use safe, respectful behavior

Physical contact must be brief, appropriate, and welcome. Encouragement, praise, handshakes, high-fives, and appropriate brief hugs may be acceptable.

Never do any of the following

• Engage in sexual contact, sexual comments, flirting, harassment, hazing, or sexually suggestive conduct.
• Use humiliating, threatening, profane, discriminatory, or demeaning language.
• Ask a youth to keep a secret, use physical punishment, or engage in wrestling, tickling, massage, or prolonged physical contact.
• Possess sexual material or use, possess, distribute, or be under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, or other controlled substances during church activities.

Follow the rules for communication, rides, and events

• Use official group communication. Do not privately message a youth unless a parent, church leader, or another staff youth worker is included.
• Do not post photos of church youth on personal social media.
• Only approved youth workers age 21 or older may drive youth for church-coordinated activities.
• Plan rides so an unrelated youth is not left alone with one driver. Obtain parental permission if an exception is necessary.
• Obtain signed parental permission for off-site events and follow the policy's supervision and sleeping rules for overnight events.

Restrooms, changing, and personal care

• Never be alone with a child in a closed restroom or stall.
• When assistance is necessary, keep the situation observable and involve another adult or child as the policy directs.
• Adults must not undress, bathe, or shower in the presence of youth, except while wearing swimwear.
• Youth should use private changing and bathing facilities whenever available.

If you suspect abuse

1. Protect the person. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 911.
2. Listen calmly. Believe the youth, collect only basic facts, and do not promise secrecy.
3. Do not investigate or confront anyone. Preserve confidentiality and contact only the people required for reporting.
4. Make two separate reports. Report to the correct civil authority and to Archdiocesan Human Resources.
5. Inform parish leadership. Tell the supervisor and senior pastor, or follow the policy's alternate path if the pastor is suspected.

In Florida, call the Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-962-2873. Informing the parish does not replace either required report. Do not report incidents through the website chat.

What you sign

Policy Acknowledgement: You confirm that you received the official policy, read it, understood it, and agree to follow it.

Youth Worker Registration: You confirm that the information you provided is true and authorize the Archdiocese to conduct the required background screening.

Youth Registration: A parent or guardian supplies the child's participation and safety information and accepts responsibility for supervision outside formal program times.