Clearance Information
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Creating a Network Prevention & Protection Safe Environment requirements for all Parish volunteers working with children at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish as mandated by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Children & Youth Protection Office.
Thank you for volunteering at St. Teresa of Calcutta Parish. We are grateful for your willingness to share your time and talents in service to our Parish community. To ensure the safety and well-being of those we serve, the state and Archdiocese of Philadelphia require that all volunteers have the appropriate clearances and Safe Environment training completed and on file before they begin volunteering. It is each volunteer's responsibility to obtain and maintain current clearances.
The following certificates are valid for five years from the date issued: Pennsylvania State Police Criminal History, Pennsylvania Child Abuse History, Pennsylvania Disclosure Statement or FBI Fingerprinting (as applicable).
The following safe environment training courses are completed one time only: VIRTUS: Protecting God's Children Safe Environment Part I, Mandated Reporter Training: Safe Environment Part II.
We encourage you to keep electronic copies of your clearances in a folder labeled "Clearances" within your email or computer files. You may also wish to set a reminder on your cell phone or calendar to renew your certifications before they expire.
If you have not yet completed your required clearances, please do so as soon as possible. Beginning in August, Pennsylvania's clearance systems experience a significant increase in requests due to the start of the school year and sports, which can result in processing delays.
Thank you for assisting us maintain a safe environment at St. Teresa of Calcutta!**Employees of the Parish must meet the same volunteer requirements plus, additional requirements. Volunteers include, but not limited to: P.R.E.P. Catechists and substitute Catechists, Aides, Hall Monitors, Youth Group Leaders & Aides, Camp Volunteers, SEEDS, lunch room moderators, homeroom parents, aides, Home and School volunteers, Scouts-all types and gender, chaperones, Decision Point Leaders and Catechists, CYO Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Board Members, and anyone volunteering with children even once a year.
Safe Environment Coordinator: Shawn Marie Brown 610-287-2525 ext. 100 or [email protected].
Scroll further down for the links and directions for the State and Archdiocesan required volunteer clearances.Effective July 25, 2015, Pennsylvania State Law made changes for the requirements for volunteers working with children at least once a year. - PA Criminal History records checks are free for volunteers, and good for five years from the date of the certificate.
- Click here for PA Criminal History record check: https://epatch.pa.gov/home
- PA Child Abuse History records checks are free for volunteers, and good for five years from the date of the certificate.
- Click here for PA Child Abuse History record check: https://www.compass.dhs.pa.gov/cwis
- A Pennsylvania Disclosure form is required for anyone living in the state for the past ten consecutive years, not convicted of anything on the form. The form must be hand signed, with a witness. No notary is needed. No electronic signatures are accepted.
- Those who have not lived in Pennsylvania for the last ten consecutive years is required to be fingerprinted. The volunteer pays for the certification.
- Click here for FBI Fingerprint record check. Service code: 1KG6TR is for PA PDE-Non-Public Schools https://www.identogo.com/
- Virtus Protecting God's Children Safe Environment Part I is free and only taken once. To register go to www.virtus.org
- Mandated Reporter Training Safe Environment Part II is free and only taken once. This is the only Mandated Reporter certification accepted.
- Click here for the link to the online Archdiocese of Philadelphia Training Institute: https://learning.childyouthprotection.org/
- Mandated Reporter Training Acknowledgment is required ONLY if the class was taken before 12/31/2014. The certificate needs to be updated to the state law change. Read the Mandated Reporter Update brochure and sign the acknowledgement form.
- CYO Additional Requirements
- CYO Handbook: Download, read and follow: Required by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia - May be updated occasionally
- Human Kinetics Catholic Coaching Essentials Online Course is a one time required by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The CYO Board authorizes payment for the class.
- Click here for the online course
- USA Football Tackle and Flag Coaches certification. See head coach for payment information. Click here for the online course https://usafootball.com/coach-certification
- Officiating Courses: One time Courses deemed Optional by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
Parent Resource Guide
A key ingredient in the creation and preservation of safe environments for children is a partnership between parents/caregivers, schools, and the community where everyone is working together to ensure their wellbeing.
In support of these efforts, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia Office for Child and Youth Protection's (OCYP) offers a Parent Resource Guidebook. This single source of information is designed for adults who want to protect the children in their lives from child abuse. It answers the questions, what do I need to know about child abuse to protect my child? And what should I do if I suspect my child has been abused? In addition, it includes important information about the factors at the heart of all successful prevention efforts in the home, along with practical information for implementing these ideas.
You can download the guide with the following link. Alternatively, you can download it from OCYP’s website at www.childyouthprotection.org under the Information and Resources tab. - PA Criminal History records checks are free for volunteers, and good for five years from the date of the certificate.
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Directions for state and archdiocesan required volunteer clearances
- Fingerprint FBI Act 114
- Pennsylvania Disclosure Application for Volunteers
- Pennsylvania Criminal History ACT 34
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse ACT 151
- VIRTUS: Protecting God's Children: Safe Environment Part I
- VIRTUS: Protecting God's Children: Safe Environment Part I, Technology Addendum
- Mandated Reporting: Safe Environment Part 2 - Pennsylvania Protective Services Law
- Additional CYO Clearances
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FBI DirectionsFBI Fingerprint *For volunteers ONLY if they have not lived in Pennsylvania for the past 10 consecutive years.
Frequency: Required by the State and Archdiocese of Philadelphia, renews every 5 years until 10 consecutive years as a Pennsylvania resident.
https://uenroll.identogo.com/ Service code: 1KG6TR is for PA PDE-Non-Public Schools- Click Locate Enrollment Center
- Enter zip code
- Click search, select location
- Click arrow to left of location for hours & address, click done.
- Click manage appointment - a green circle displays in front of name/method of contact
- Complete all fields, click next, complete all fields
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Pennsylvania Disclosure for Volunteers- For those you have lived in Pennsylvania for the past 10 consecutive years and not convicted of anything on the form.
All volunteers are required to obtain a free Pennsylvania Disclosure Application for Unpaid Volunteer Position as required by the Pennsylvania Child Protective Service Law 23 Pa. C.S. § 6344.2 (relating to volunteers having contact with children). The form is to be signed by hand with a witness. No electronic signatures are accepted. No notary is needed.Frequency: The certificate is good for 5 years from the date signed.
How to Obtain: Disclosure Statement Download
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How to Obtain: https://epatch.state.pa.us/
All volunteers are required to obtain a free PA Criminal History certificate; to obtain this go to: https://epatch.pa.gov/home
Free for volunteers and required for employees age 14 and over Frequency: Required every 5 years from the date of the certificate.- Click the New Volunteer Check
- On the next page, at the bottom click the box about obtaining a free volunteer clearance
- On the next page, enter your personal information. Do not enter volunteer organization.
- Enter your information as requested. You do not need to enter your SSN
- Proceed to next page, click on the Submit button
- Proceed to next page, click on the bold blue R Control Number button
- Proceed to next page, click on the bold blue Certification Form button
- Download and save your PDF certificate
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Requirement: Required
Frequency: 5 Years
How to Obtain: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis/public/home
Notes: Free for volunteers and required for employees age 14 and over
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Requirement: Required by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for volunteers over the age of 18.
Frequency: One Time
How to Obtain: https://www.virtus.orgGo to Training Institute
Click on first time registrant, select Philadelphia, PA (Archdiocese)
Select preferred in person or online live session.
Notes: Safe Environment and Technology Addendum are included in training after 6/30/2011.
Keep your Virtus login information. After the class is completed, download your certificate of completion. When attending a class in person, you will sign a carbonless copy form from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries for Priests, Deacons, Religious, Pastoral Ministers, Administrators, Staff and Volunteers. The white copy is for the Parish, the yellow copy is for the class member. The signed form is required to volunteer along with the certificate of completion.
If attending a live online session, the class member's home Parish will receive the original Standards of Ministerial Behavior form. This can take several weeks to be processed from the Archdiocese to the Parishes. The Parish is to notify the class member that the form needs to be signed.
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Requirement: Required by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia for those over the age of 18.
If you attended a Virtus Protecting God's Children: Safe Environment Part I class prior to June 20, 2011, a Technology Addendum is required.
Frequency: One Time
How to Obtain: https://www.virtus.org
Notes: The Technology Addendum is included in Virtus training after 6/30/2011.- Click here to read the brochure about the Technology Addendum: /documents/2025/10/Technology%20Addendum.pdf
- Click here to sign the Technology Addendum Form:
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Requirement: Required by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia
This is the only Mandated Reporter Training certification that is accepted.
Frequency: One Time
How to Obtain: https://learning.childyouthprotection.org/Session is an online video that can be paused and returned to when convenient. The class member must download their certificate of completion.
If Mandated Reporter Training is dated prior to 12/13/2014:
Read Mandated Reporter brochure about Pennsylvania State law change. /documents/2025/10/Mandated%20Reporter%20Brochure.pdf
Sign Mandated Reporter Acknowledgment document. /documents/2025/10/Mandated%20Reporter%20Acknowledgement.pdf
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cyo additional clearances/requirements
- CYO Handbook: Download, read and follow: Required by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia - May be updated occasionally
- Human Kinetics Catholic Coaching Essentials Online Course: A one time Course Required by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, paid for by STC CYO
- USA Football Coaching Courses:
Required by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, "once and done"
https://usafootball.com/coach-certification *Check with head coach for payment information. - Officiating Courses: One time Courses deemed Optional by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia