What is being done to insure the safety of minors and vulnerable adults?

Safe Environment Program and Background Checks (BGCs)

3.1  The Archdiocese will also evaluate the background of all Personnel of the Archdiocese who have contact with Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults in their ministerial or employment duties, by causing them to undergo a standard Background Check.

3.1(a) All employees of a Catholic school must undergo a Fingerprint Background Check. All such employees must undergo a standard Background Check every 10 years following the initial fingerprinting, or at any time if the employee changes schools. (Every 5 years effective 2019)

3.1(b)  All Personnel of the Archdiocese who have contact with Minors and/or Vulnerable Adults are required to promptly self-report any convictions involving criminal and/or motor vehicle matters, current or pending, to their pastor, principal or supervisor who will in turn notify the Office of Safe Environment.

3.1(c)  Standard Background Checks will be repeated every 10 years.

3.1(d)  A Standard Background Check should be re-done any time an employee or volunteer leaves employment or the volunteer position for more than one year and seeks to become employed by and/or volunteer at either the same or new parish, a parish school, Archdiocesan Catholic School, the Hartford Roman Catholic Diocesan Corporation, or Catholic ministry sponsored by the Archdiocese of Hartford.

3.1(e) Any employee who works in more than one entity set forth in section 3.1 (d) must comply with sections 3.1 (a), (b), (c), and (d), however they will not need to complete separate standard background checks for each employer. Any individual who volunteers at more than such entity must comply with sections 3.1, 3.1 (b), (c), and (d).  A background check to fulfill a requirement for any other organization (i.e. Scouting, State Police, Teachers, etc.) will not be accepted as a background check for the Archdiocese of Hartford. The background check must have been completed specifically for the Archdiocese of Hartford.

• What kind of background checks are being conducted in the AOH?
  • The AOH completes two different types of background checks. Initially, Fingerprint Background Checks are completed on all employees of our Catholic Schools. These captured fingerprints are scanned and sent electronically, along with specific required personal information, to the CT-DESPP and the FBI.  All other BGCs are completed by Mind Your Business, Inc.  These checks are processed on the personal information supplied by the applicant (ie. Name, Address, DOB, SS#)

• Again, who are required to have background checks?
  • All employees, including clergy of the Archdiocese, its parishes, schools, offices and agencies and any volunteer in a leadership role or who has contact with a minor or vulnerable through their ministry.
• What does the background check cover?
  • It includes State and National Criminal Files, Social Security Number Verification and National Sex Offender Registry.
• Does the AOH have a policy for how the information it obtained through the background check is used?
  •  Specific criteria will be applied in considering whether or not an individual will be eligible for initial or continued employment or service as a volunteer in positions with any Archdiocesan entity where the individual involved may have contact with minors or vulnerable adults.  In some instances, criminal convictions will automatically bar and applicant.  In other instances, the totality of the circumstances may result in the barring of an individual.  Other circumstances may necessitate obtaining additional information.  In all instance, the safety of minors and/or vulnerable adults is paramount

The Pastor, Administrator, or Principal will be notified by phone that an individual is barred from employment or volunteering.  The details of the matter will notbe discussed, only that the individual is barred and, if applicable the date in which they are able to be re-considered for employment of volunteering.  The applicant will be sent a letter stating such and the Pastor, Administrator or Principal will be copied on the letter.

• Is all of the information that is revealed in the background check passed along to the pastor?
  • No, unless the applicant has given in writing the authorization to release the results of the records to a specific pastor.

• Why?
  • The OSE Code of Ministerial Behavior III. 2. A. b. provides that the AOH shall not harm the reputation of others through:
    • Disclosing the faults or failings of others to persons who have no cause to know them.
    • Disclosing confidential information, except in cases of mandated reporting of child abuse or neglect
    • Disclosing personal information that could cause an individual to suffer embarrassment, humiliation or public ridicule of any kind.

• Where is that policy available?
  • The policy is made available to every school and parish, and provided to any volunteer/employee when requested.

• How does the AOH monitor the process of rechecking volunteers, employees and clergy? 
  • The Office of Safe Environment maintains a detailed software data program designed specifically for their needs. A report is generated and sent to the parishes and schools generally about every 2-3 months, or upon request of the school/parish.  Site Coordinators at every school/parish are responsible for reviewing the names provided in the report and ensuring that all persons listed are up to date with their BGC.  The OSE visits with parishes/schools, and continuously monitors the SE data reports to make certain that all policies and codes are being followed and to ensure that all personnel are in compliance

• How are background checks handled for priests and/or seminarians who come to the US (to the Archdiocese of Hartford) from other countries?
  • Priests, deacons and seminarians from other countries are subject to all Visa requirements of the State Department and any and all background checks required by their Diocese in their country of origin. These include governmental and Church related policies. When they become affiliated with the AOH, they are subject to all the requirements of this Archdiocese. Priests and deacons must also bring with them a “letter of suitability” to perform any liturgical/ministerial function or to take up residence within the Archdiocese.