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 Ashley Umberger).
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 $26 and $13.25. 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 to umbergera@stmbr.org or printing it out and turning it in with your paperwork to the school office (c/o Ashley Umberger).
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 Ashley Umberger).

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, Ashely Umberger. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Umberger (225-275-2820 or umbergera@stmbr.org ). Thank you so much for your interest in volunteering!

Current Volunteers:

All volunteers must complete the New Training: Serving Vulnerable Populations at the Safe & Sacred website (https://safeandsacred-diobr.org/my/ ) mandated by the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Please log into Safe and Sacred website and complete the New Training: Serving Vulnerable Populations. Please also review the updated Code of Ethics and sign/date. Certificate and signed Code of Ethics can be emailed to umbergera@stmbr.org or dropped off at the school office.

Diocese of Baton Rouge Information

Learn-Practice-Teach-Encourage Flyer

Circles of Grace for19-2020

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 for your child’s grade level is scheduled after the Christmas break.  Parents have the right to opt their children out of receiving Safe Environment training. I’ve attached the link to the Circles of Care on the Safe and Sacred website for you to review what they children will go over.  It’s the responsibility of the Parents/Guardians to ensure that School/PSR personnel indicated above are in receipt of this form. The Circles of Care lesson plan for your child’s grade level may be reviewed at https://www.diobr.org/circle-of-grace under Curriculum.