Compliance Resources

Compliance Resources

OPCY is here to assist parishes and schools in their efforts to fulfill the child protection policies of the Archdiocese of Chicago as well as those of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

Office for Safe Environment
Office fax: 217.212.6745

Sarah Nemecek, MSc, BA
Director of Safe Environment
312.534.5238
[email protected]

Mary Krewer
Compliance Specialist
312.534.2595
[email protected]

Dina Garcia
Virtus Specialist / Office Manager
312.534.5206
[email protected]

Maricela Gonzalez
Senior Compliance Specialist
312.534.5388
[email protected]

Victoria Lara
Compliance Specialist
312.534.3852
[email protected]

Office for the Protection of Children & Youth

Safe Environment Compliance Guidelines Chart,
July 2024


Compliance period: July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2025

Click here to view the PDF
(Español | Polski)
 

Role CBC FP CANTS
689
Adult Training MRT & CANTS 22/A ASB
Clergy: Priests and deacons   PGC & Rec.
Candidates for ordination (seminarians and diaconate formation)   PGC & Rec.
All employees of Pastoral Center, parishes and agencies   (✓)* PGC & Rec.  
School employees (certified & non-certified) PGC & Rec.
DREs/CREs, catechists, SPRED volunteers with minors, youth ministers, coaches, scout leaders   PGC & Rec.

School volunteers and all parish
volunteers who serve with children and/or youth

  PGC & Rec.
Ministers to vulnerable adults (SPRED volunteers, ministers of care, hospital visitors, etc.)   (✓)* VAT  
Non-archdiocesan employees/volunteers/third-party contractors + and student teachers       PGC  
Employees who are minors       HT    
Chicago Public Schools staffing/vendors       PAC  


* Required only once for employees who do not work with children.
+ Parish/School must have contract through Legal Services for third-party vendors
 


Those under the age of 18 are unable to meet safe environment compliance requirement. Therefore, they may not be in a supervisory role or in charge of minors.

Safe Environment compliance is a condition of employment/volunteering and must be met prior to start date. All compliance recordkeeping is to be verified and tracked within the Virtus System Database and reported in the Annual OPCY Audit. (Policy 603.1)


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