Creating a safe environment for children and young people is a diocesan priority. We are dedicated to ensuring a culture of safe and respectful conduct in ALL ministries and enhancing and protecting the dignity and trust of all God’s people.
We hold all Church Clergy, Religious, and Lay Ministers to Christ-centered conduct.
Appropriate training is how everyone will best be able to recognize, respond, and report abuse, neglect, and /or sexual misconduct of all ages.
As a result of this priority, every employee and volunteer must:
- Complete a Volunteer Ministry Application
- Have a criminal background check
- Complete Adult Safe Environment Training (18+ adults only) or Teen Safe Environment Training Session (13-17 teens only)
REGISTRATION FOR ADULTS
INITIAL SESSION PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN FOR ADULTS at Good Shepherd:
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December 21, 2024 - 9:00am
RENEWAL SESSION * KEEPING THE PROMISE ALIVE at Good Shepherd:
- November 21, 2024 - 7:30pm
RENEWAL SESSION * A PLAN TO PROTECT at Good Shepherd:
- More dates to come.
You may wish to bring your own water and a jacket with you to class. Please BE PROMPT! The doors will close and you will be unable to enter after the class starts.
*The renewal sessions are only for people who took their first class after September 2018. First timers and those who took their initial class prior to September 2018 must take the regular session. If you are not sure which session you need to attend, please contact the parish office at 817-421-1387.
I NEED A VIRTUS PROFILE I HAVE A VIRTUS PROFILE
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
RECENT ARTICLES ON SAFE ENVIRONMENT
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BELIEVE IN THE POSSIBILITY OF HELP AND HEALING. THERE IS HOPE.
To listen to your needs and support you, a local Victim Assistance Coordinator is available to help you or anyone who has been abused or victimized by someone representing the Catholic Church. We will help you make a formal complaint and arrange a personal meeting with the bishop, or his delegate, if desired. We encourage you to come forward and speak out.
The Victim Assistance Coordinator may be contacted at: (817) 602-5119
For more information about safeguarding children and young people, please contact the Office of Safe Environment at (817) 945-9334 or (817) 945-9341 www.fwdioc.org/safe-environment
Staff Contact: Shannon Weimholt or Nicole Trevino, 817-421-1387
All Teen volunteers ages 14-17 years old must complete the following before volunteering.
- Teen Leadership Safe Environment (can be done by clicking the button below or at any parish in the diocese)
- Empowering God's Children * (is given through Catholic schools, in parish religious education classes, and in youth ministry sessions) This program can be taught at home. If you would like to complete “Empowering God’s Children” at home, please contact Shannon Weimholt, our Safe Environment Coordinator at or 817-442-4051.
Next Teen Leaders Safe Environment Training is November 9, 2024 - 1:00pm
*The Empowering God’s Children® Program is for children and youth, Kindergarten through grade 12, to teach them about boundaries, how to recognize boundary violations, how to respond to persons who violate their boundaries, and how to report such violations to parents, family members, and other trusted adults. The sessions are taught in the Catholic schools, in parish religious education classes, and in youth ministry sessions. Empowering God’s Children® is a prerequisite to applying for Teen Leader Training.
Parents who opt out to having their children attend the Empowering God’s Children® sessions at school, religious education class or in youth ministry are strongly urged to review the age/grade appropriate curriculum with their children in the home. Information and the same curriculum with handouts and interactive activities that are used by the group facilitators are available through your Catholic school, parish catechetical leaders and parish Safe Environment Coordinators.
During this difficult and unprecedented time our families may be facing an overwhelming amount of stress, worry, anxiety and pressure. The following resources are here to help:
- Texas Youth Helpline: Provides peer counseling to youth and family members for family conflicts, abuse & neglect, delinquency and run-aways: Call 1-800-989-6884 or Text 512-872-5777 or use chat feature @ Texasyouthhelpline.org
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: Call 1-800-799-7233 or Chat Feature @ Thehotline.org
- Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration: Disaster Distress Helpline - Call 1-800-985-5990 Or text TalkwithUs to 66746
“I DO THE SAME AND ENCOURAGE EACH AND ALL OF US TO REJECT PANIC AND EMBRACE FAITH TO MAKE OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMON GOOD WITH SOLIDARITY AND LOVE FOR OUR NEIGHBOR.” BISHOP MICHAEL F. OLSON, PASTORAL LETTER 3-12-2020