Safe Environment
With the Church's endorsement of the mandatory reporting provisions of the Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 350 concerning child abuse, the "Policy on Allegations and Incidents of Sexual Misconduct" is promulgated by the Diocese of Honolulu.
Under this promulgation, all parish employees who have ongoing, unsupervised contact with minors are required to complete background screening and safe environment training in accordance with the policies of the Diocese. Consistent with the Diocesan Policy, St. Elizabeth Catholic Church will conduct Safe Environment Training for children as part of the religious education curriculum. Parents meeting will be held before the class is conducted to provide parents and guardians the opportunity to review the safe environment materials to be used.
Consent for the participation of this program is required. Given this, a Parent Acknowledgment Form will be provided to you.
If you wish to have a copy of the handbook containing the policy of the Diocese ("To Offer Healing, To Restore Trust"), please see the Parish Secretary.
All adults who have significant contact with minors are required to attend the Diocesan Safe Environment Initial Training class within sixty (60) days from the official start date of their assigned duties.
The Code of Conduct Agreement, as outlined in “To Offer Healing, To Restore Trust” Handbook, includes the following statement as a condition of providing services to the children and youth of our Diocese:
I will -
Treat everyone with respect, loyalty, patience, integrity, courtesy, dignity, and consideration.
Avoid situations where I am alone with children and/or youth at Church activities.
Use positive reinforcement rather than criticism, negative competition, or comparison when working with children and/or youth.
Refuse to accept expensive gifts from children and/or youth without prior written approval from the parents or guardian and the pastor or administrator.
Report suspected abuse to the pastor, administrator, or appropriate supervisor and the local Child Protection Services agency. I understand that failure to report suspected abuse to civil authorities is, according to the law, a petty misdemeanor.
Cooperate fully in any investigation of abuse of children and/or youth.
I will not -
Smoke or use tobacco products in the presence of children and/or youth.
Use, possess, or be under the influence of alcohol at any time while volunteering.
Use, possess, or be under the influence of illegal drugs at any time.
Pose any health risk to children and/or youth (i.e., no fevers or other contagious situations).
Strike, spank, shake, or slap children and/or youth.
Humiliate, ridicule, threaten, or degrade children and/or youth.
Touch a child and/or youth in a sexual or other inappropriate manner.
Use any discipline that frightens or humiliates children and/or youth.
Use profanity in the presence of children and/or youth.
I understand that as a person working with children and/or youth, I am subject to a background check to the full extent of Hawaii state law. I understand that any action inconsistent with this Code of Conduct or failure to take action mandated by this Code of Conduct may result in my removal from working with children and/or youth.