Safe Church Training, Policies, & Procedures
In our Baptismal Covenant, we promise to respect the dignity of every human being. One way we live out that value is through the implementation of our Safe Church Policies. Our Safe Church Policies establish and maintain standards intended to ensure our faith communities are safe places where all of God’s people are loved and encouraged to grow into the people God calls us to be. These policies provide specific requirements, recommendations, best practices, and guidelines that seek to respond in proactive and intentional ways to care for, be responsible to, and create safe and transformational spaces for everyone.
Safe Church
EDNC Safe Church Training Requirements:
(Download Chart)
(Download Complete Guide)
Click the tabs to the left to view details for each requirement.
Questions? Contact Michelle Karimi at michelle@norcalepiscopal.org or (916) 442-6918 ext 215
Mandated Reporter Training
California Mandated Reporter Training
(Required by California AB506)
(Required by California AB506)
- Per California law, all administrators (paid or unpaid) and employees (clergy & lay) must complete this training
- Volunteers 18 years of age or older that have direct contact with, or supervision of, children for more than 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year must also complete this training
- Must be renewed every 2 years
- To take this free training through Praesidium:
- Click HERE to sign into your Praesidium account
- Scroll down to navigate to the list of available trainings. You will see many trainings which you are welcome to take at no cost, however you are not required to take any trainings not mentioned on our website here.
- Select the “CANRA Mandated Reporter” training, and click “Start Course”
- If you do not have a Praesidium account, please contact your church’s Safe Church Administrator. Each church is assigned an administrator to manage Praesidium accounts. If you do not know who your Safe Church Administrator is, please contact the Clergy in charge, Senior Warden, or Parish Administrator at your church. If your church does not have a Safe Church Administrator, please contact Michelle Karimi at michelle@norcalepiscopal.org.
Background Checks/Credit Checks
Background Screenings
Background Checks:
- Per California law, all administrators (paid or unpaid) and employees (clergy & lay) must complete a background check
- Volunteers 18 years of age or older that have direct contact with, or supervision of, children for more than 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year must also complete a background check
- For new clergy, a full background check must be completed through Oxford Documents. Please contact jacqi@norcalepiscopal.org for assistance with this.
- For lay, a background check must be completed through Praesidium.
- Background checks must be renewed for both clergy and lay every five years through Praesidium. Renewals cost $20 on average, depending on the number of recent counties of residence of the person being checked. The congregation is invoiced after the background check is complete.
- To complete or renew a background check:
- Reach out to your church’s Safe Church Administrator as they will need to initiate the request before you can complete the form
- Once the Administrator places the request, you can log into your Praesidium account, scroll through the list of trainings, and click on “Background Check“
- From there you simply complete and submit the form online
- Administrators – Click HERE for instructions on how to run a background check (pg.9)
- If you do not know who your Safe Church Administrator is, please contact the Clergy in charge, Senior Warden, or Parish Administrator at your church. If your church does not have a Safe Church Administrator, please contact Michelle Karimi at michelle@norcalepiscopal.org.
Credit Checks:
- Required for all Treasurers and check signers
- Are completed through Oxford Documents, cost $15 per report, and must be initiated by the Office of the Bishop
- To run a credit check:
- Administrators must email the following information to michelle@norcalepiscopal.org to initiate the credit check process: Full legal name of individual in need of credit check and their email
LiveScan Fingerprinting
LiveScan Fingerprinting
- Per California law, all administrators (paid or unpaid) and employees (clergy & lay) must complete a fingerprint based state and federal-level LiveScan background check
- Volunteers 18 years of age or older that have direct contact with, or supervision of, children for more than 16 hours per month or 32 hours per year must also complete a LiveScan
- Steps to complete a LiveScan:
- Download, complete and send the BCIA 9018 – CalVECHS Waiver Agreement to michelle@norcalepiscopal.org
- Download, complete and print the BCIA 8016VECHS – Request for LiveScan Service: Employee| Volunteer (you will submit this to the LiveScan location)
- Go to: https://oag.ca.gov/fingerprints/locations
- Scroll down and select your county from the list
- Visit the nearest LiveScan location to you
- Submit your BCIA 8016VECHS form to the LiveScan operator
- Pay the fee to the operator (please let us know ahead of time if you need a scholarship to cover the cost)
- Get fingerprinted
- Please note: LiveScan fingerprinting results cannot be used for multiple purposes. Each LiveScan submission is tied to a specific request or agency and is processed for a particular background check purpose. Therefore, even if you have had a LiveScan completed elsewhere, you will still need to complete a new one with our application form. For example: a teacher had a LiveScan completed as part of their job as a Sunday School teacher meeting the volunteer requirements, the state law states they must still complete another LiveScan.
- When an individual is no longer an employee, volunteer, or affiliated with your church in the capacity in which they were when the LiveScan was completed, you MUST inform our office via an email to benefits@norcalepiscopal.org stating so, as we are required by law to notify the state via the LiveScan portal, in order to have them removed from their notifications list.
Questions? Please contact Michelle Karimi at benefits@norcalepiscopal.org, or (916) 442-6918.
Sexual Harassment Training
Promoting a Safe Environment:
Employee/Supervisor Sexual Harassment Training – CA
- Per California law, employers with five or more employees are required to provide sexual harassment prevention training to all clergy, lay employees, and volunteers.
- This mandatory training (30 minutes) for supervisors and non-supervisory employees must also take place within six months of hire or promotion and every two years thereafter. Taking these individual learner courses in a group setting will not satisfy the requirements.
- Must be renewed every 2 years
- In determining whether an employer meets the threshold and is subject to the sexual harassment prevention training requirement, independent contractors, volunteers, and unpaid interns are also counted in addition to employees.
- For example, if an employer has 2 part-time employees and 6 volunteers, the employer would meet the threshold requirement and would need to ensure the 2 part-time employees complete the training. The 6 volunteers would not be required to do so but are welcome to.
- While volunteers, independent contractors, and unpaid interns are not required to take this training, employers might consider encouraging it as a best practice.
- To take this training:
- Click HERE to sign into your Praesidium account
- Scroll down to navigate to the list of available trainings. You will see many trainings which you are welcome to take at no cost, however you are not required to take any trainings not mentioned on our website here.
- If you are a supervisor, select the “Promoting a Safe Environment: Supervisor Sexual Harassment Training – CA” and click “Start Course”
- If you are not a supervisor, select the “Promoting a Safe Environment: Employee Sexual Harassment Training – CA” and click “Start Course”
- As the diocese has access to view completed trainings, you do not need to send us your certificate of completion; however you should discuss this with your church as they may want a copy for their records.
- If you do not have a Praesidium account, please contact your church’s Safe Church Administrator. Each church is assigned an administrator to manage Praesidium accounts. If you do not know who your Safe Church Administrator is, please contact the Clergy in charge, Senior Warden, or Parish Administrator at your church. If your church does not have a Safe Church Administrator, please contact Michelle Karimi at michelle@norcalepiscopal.org.
Resoures, Policies & Forms
Resources, Policies & Forms
Child Abuse Prevention
- Safe Church Policies For Children
- Child Abuse Law
- CA Child Protective Services Emergency Numbers
- Clergy As Mandated Reporters Of Child Abuse
- What You Should Know About Mandated Reporting
- California Mandated Reporting Steps
- Suspected Child Abuse Form
- Suspected Child Abuse Form Instructions
- Covenant For Sexual Responsibility
- Field Trip Permission Form
- Permission For Minor To Travel
- Training Record
- Vehicle Driver Form
- Record Of Contact Child
- Screening Form For Children Or Youth Work
- Secondary Screening Form For Children And Youth Ministry Workers
Exploitation Prevention
- Record Of Contact
- Note Of Concern For Training
- Exploitation Prevention Policy
- Elder Abuse Reporting Guide
- Code Of Conduct
Harassment Prevention
- Domestic Violence Clergy Training
- GC Resolution A156 Appendix B Sexual Misconduct Exploitation
- Safe Church Policies For The Prevention Of Harassment
Safe Church FAQs
Safe Church FAQs
Safe Church FAQs for Users Safe Church FAQs for Administrators
(Download) (Download)
Questions or need assistance?
Please contact Michelle Karimi at michelle@norcalepiscopal.org, or (916) 442-6918
Additional Recommended Trainings
Additional Recommended Trainings
While the free trainings listed below are not required, they are recommended for those that are interested.
Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction & Theological Background
An introduction that discusses the model policies of The Episcopal Church, set forth expectations for its leaders in their relationships with children, youth and adults. Our hope is to foster the highest standards of behavior in ministry setting across The Episcopal Church. In living into these policies and practices, we are living into our love for each other and our love for the world.
Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rules & Policies
An overview of our model policies, best practices, and screening, monitoring, and supervision standards.
Safe Church, Safe Communities: Healthy Boundaries
A review of how to respond to unhealthy boundary violations (physical, emotional, external, etc.) and the benefits of managing healthy boundaries.
Safe Church, Safe Communities: Power and Relationships
Define healthy relationships within hierarchies and how to respond to unhealthy expressions of power.
Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse & Neglect
Learn the warning signs of abuse and neglect as well as how to respond and report instances of abuse or neglect.
Safe Church, Safe Communities: Inclusion
An overview of what it means to be an inclusive community, including requirements of commitment and how to recognize and respond to discriminatory language and behaviors.
Safe Church, Safe Communities: Pastoral Relationships
This course will help you learn about: the impact of abuse, pastoral power dynamics, navigating pastoral relationships and self-care.
Safe Church, Safe Communities: Bullying
An overview of types of bullying and how to identify, respond to, and report instances of bullying.
Contacting an Intake Officer
Contacting an Intake Officer
Anyone may contact the diocesan intake officer to report concerns about the behavior of a member of a clergy person. This initiates a process, when appropriate, to hold clergy accountable for their behavior.
The Rev. Nancy Streufert, is the intake officer for the diocese.
E-mail: revnancysstreufert@gmail.com
Phone: 707-840-6016
The intake officer will:
- Listen with respect
- Offer pastoral care and response
- Create a written report regarding the concern(s) presented
- Answer questions about the process
Please note: Clergy members are REQUIRED to report to the intake officer anything that may constitute an offense and to cooperate with the clergy disciplinary process.
