Safe Environment and Fingerprinting
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About the Safe Environment Program
St. Stephen is a Safe Environment. The Safe Environment Program (SEP) is mandated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Florida Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Diocese of St. Petersburg, and certain Florida statues to protect children, youth, and vulnerable adults from abuse, especially sexual abuse.
The Diocese of St. Petersburg SEP programs are meant to enable children and vulnerable adults to feel secure and protected in their surroundings. We want our children and youth to feel free to receive a Catholic education and to experience healthy relationships. We want to foster a safe environment and to provide a healthy and loving relationship in the image of God for our vulnerable adults who may be sick and or shut-in, and for our elderly who may be suffering from the infirmities of aging.
St. Stephen Catholic Church complies with all aspects of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, adopted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. The St. Petersburg Diocese policy entitled Policy for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults was implemented in 2003 and was most recently revised in November 2009. Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People
Safe Environment Training
All adults volunteering with programs that involve youth, to include parents of children attending St. Stephen Catholic School who desire to volunteer at the school, those who volunteer with the St. Stephen Faith Formation Program, and volunteers who bring Holy Communion to the hospitalized or homebound parishioners must have completed a Diocese-sponsored Safe Environment Training and complete a Level II background screening (fingerprints and name search). To take Safe Environment Training online, please click HERE. Please send certificates of completion to Sue@ststephencatholic.org. Please be sure to indicate if you're volunteering with the school or parish ministry so your paperwork can be routed appropriately.Level II Fingerprints
To schedule your appointment for fingerprints please visit Diocese of St. Petersburg by clicking here, or contact the church. Cost is $51.
For more information or questions regarding the Safe Environment Program please contact Sue Haines at our Faith Formation Office, 813-671-4434. You can also email Sue at Sue@ststephencatholic.org