SCHOOL Volunteer Requirements

St. Thomas More must provide a safe environment for children and youth. We hold ALL adults who work with minors to a code of conduct that is Christ-centered and professional. The Safe Environment Program implemented by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge requires us to evaluate the background of all paid personnel and volunteers whose duties include ongoing, unsupervised contact with minors.

The Diocese of Baton Rouge has adopted Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. Any one who wants to volunteer at St. Thomas More must be in compliance with this policy. ALL requirements must be met in order to volunteer.

Any parent/adult (18 and older) who would like to volunteer with children on the St. Thomas More campus must fill out the following requirements as mandated by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Diocese of Baton Rouge.

The certification requirements can be accessed below or at the Office of Child and Youth Protection website.

Requirements:

1. Complete an EAPPS application and return to school (c/o Kristin Baldridge).
2. Submit to a criminal background check at State Police Headquarters on Independence Boulevard with the following paperwork - LSP Volunteer Form and LSP Volunteer Criminal History Form. Please print off forms and bring with you to LSP Headquarters. Click here for map. Payment must be in the form of two money orders made out for $39.25 and $10. You can use a debt or credit card for an additional service fee of $2.86. The Louisiana State Police does not accept cash or personal checks. The LSP will email STM the results. Click here for notice to applicants.
3. Complete tutorial: Recognizing Child Abuse under First Time Training at the Safe & Sacred Online Training, after you complete the tutorial you have the option of emailing the certificate or printing it out and turning it in with your paperwork to the school office (c/o Kristen Baldridge).
4. Read The Code of Ethics and Behavior for Adults who Minister with Minors in the Diocese of Baton Rouge, sign the acknowledgement form and return to school, c/o Kristin Baldridge.

The cost of the Background Check will be the responsibility of the person completing the child protection application.‍

Please submit all documentation to our Child Protection coordinator, Kristin Baldridge.

PARISH VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS

Requirements for church parish sponsored programs such as Vacation Bible School, Parish School of Religion, and Sacramental Prep Programs (Confirmation or First Eucharist):

1. Complete an EAPPS application, with which a simple background check will be run - EAPPS FORM
2. Visit Safe and Sacred Training for Adults website HERE, create a new account or log in existing account; complete training module Serving Vulnerable Populations and the Diocesan Code of Ethics - print/download completed certificate. The online training reviews the Diocesan Code of Ethics and your completion of the training includes your agreement to abide by the Code.
3. Return completed EAPPS application and certificate issued by the completed online training to Sarah Neau at the church office or electronically at least two weeks prior to the event or program you are interested in volunteering.

If you have completed Diocesan Child Protection requirements for another site (parish or school), please complete this form.

* If you feel that there is a need to make a report of abuse, click HERE to follow the steps for mandated reporting as outlined by the Diocesan Code of Ethics.

ALL Current Volunteers:

All volunteers for school and church must have completed the Serving Vulnerable Populations and the Diocesan Code of Ethics module within the last five years.

For any questions, or to submit training certificate:

STM Church Child Protection Coordinator: Sarah Neau, 225.275.3940 - drop off at church office

STM School Child Protection Coordinator: Kristin Baldridge, 225.275.2820 - drop off at school office

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Diocese of Baton Rouge Information

Learn-Practice-Teach-Encourage Flyer

Circles of Grace

The Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People requires that all children enrolled in Catholic Schools and Parish Schools of Religion receive Safe Environment training, The Diocese of Baton Rouge will provide such training for grades K-12 utilizing the program, Circles of Care.

The Circles of Care lesson plan for your child's grade level may be reviewed at https://learncat.diobr.org/circle-of-grace/ using the password CareSafeChurch.