Safe Environment & Circle of Grace

Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People

Our parish follows the national guidelines for the protection of Children and Young People approved by the US Bishops and the policies of the Diocese of Worcester in screening those who work with children in our care and in helping victims of abuse find healing. If you or someone you know has been sexually abused by a Church employee or volunteer in the past, please contact the Victim Services Coordinator for our Diocese at (508) 929-4363 (direct line and confidential voicemail). If you are concerned about a case of abuse, please contact the local civil Authorities immediately.

Safe Environment Programs

The Diocese of Worcester created Safe Environment programs for all individuals in the diocese to help promote awareness of sexual abuse, help prevent abuse, and encourage survivors of abuse to seek the healing they deserve.
The following people must complete Safe Environment Program* to work or volunteer in the Diocese of Worcester, its parishes and its organizations:

• Bishop(s)
• Priests and Deacons
• Seminarians
• Religious priests, brother and sisters
• Lay employees and volunteers (age 14 and over)

Who is Required to Complete Safe Enviornment Training

• Any volunteers who may have direct and unmonitored contact with children, including  classroom volunteers, must have an annual CORI check. St. Mary's asks these volunteers to submit the required form along with a copy of their driver's license at the start of the Religious Education year.   Catechists, Aides, and parents cannot participate as volunteers with direct and unmonitored contact with students as delineated above without a completed CORI form on file.
• These volunteers are also required to attend one Safe Environment Training class and to sign the Diocesan Code of Ministerial Conduct.  
• Certain volunteers who may have extended direct and unmonitored contact with children, including transport of students or overnight chaperoning of students, may be required to undertake a fingerprinting process. These will be handled on a case by case basis. 

Safe Environment Training for Students (Circle of Grace)

This training for students is provided on a yearly basis. Additional information along with the protocol for parents to opt their students out of this training is provided by their grade level teachers.  A yearly information session describing this training is provided through St. Mary's Parish and times and dates for this will be provided.
Circle of Grace Information

Presented by Dr. Heather Forkey, a pediatrician at UMASS/Memorial Hospital who is a member of the Diocesan Review Committee.

from UMASS Medical School Communications:
Heather C. Forkey, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, director of the Foster Children Evaluation Service (FaCES), and chief of the Division of Child Protection for the UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center, and Joy McCann Professor for Women in Medicine.