Safe Environment

If you are seeking Victims Assistance, please click here.

Safe Environment Overview

Summary of Program

USCCB Office of Child & Youth Protection

Parent Page at USCCB Office of Child & Youth Protection

Internet Safety

Archdiocesan Staff

FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions)

VIRTUS Protecting God's Children (PGC) for Adults Workshop

Register & Attend a PGC Workshop

What to Expect at the Workshop

Documents

Confirmation of Attendance at a PGC Workshop

Victims Assistance Information
 

Safe Environment Training for Children and Youth (K through grade 12)

Sacred and Safe

Safe Environment Training for Minors (High School Youth under the age of 18)

Jeremiah 1:7

Overview

In the Gospels,Matthew 19:14 & Luke 18:16, Jesus clearly calls the little children to come to Him. In the document, Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal the USCCB's Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, the US Catholic Bishops have called for the protection of those same children. The Safe Environment Program of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is a response to those calls.

The mission of the Archdiocese's "Safe Environment Program" is to insure the safety of children and young people who have been entrusted to our care in our parishes, schools, religious education classes, and other programs.

We pursue this mission in three ways:

1. By thoroughly screening and supervising all Church ministers, employees and volunteers who work with children and young people as part of their ministry.

2. By providing appropriate training in recognizing and reporting child abuse to appropriate civil and Church authorities.

3. By holding all Church ministers, employees and volunteers who work with children and young people to Christ-centered and professional codes of conduct.

The pages on this website are a tool to allow any interested person an opportunity to explore our programs further or just get in touch with us. We welcome your comments and suggestions at all times.
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Staff

Our staff is available to assist you with whatever information you may need. Please feel free to contact us:

Julie Blevins – Manager of Safe Environment
713.652.4401
Email Julie Blevins

Juliette Thomas - Compliance Coordinator
713.652.4443
Email Juliette Thomas

Isabel Guerra – Program Coordinator
713.652.8294
Email Isabel Guerra
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Register & Attend a "Protecting God's Children Workshop"

To begin registration select:

• View a list of sessions

• Begin the registration process

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What to expect at the workshop?

• Check-In (Sign your name on the pre-registered sign-in sheet at the workshop)
• Handouts** (Fill out the forms completely & turn them in at the end of the workshop)

**All Volunteers:

• Fill out Volunteer Background Check Form
• Volunteer Code of Conduct Form.

**All Employees:

• Fill out SE Workshop Attendance Verification Form
• Volunteer Code of Conduct Form.

(Your Employer should submit your Employee Background Check Form separately)

(Credit for attendance is only given if your signature is on the Sign-in Sheet and complete paperwork is submitted at the workshop. NO PAPERWORK, NO CREDIT! We do not issue certificates of attendance at PGC Workshops!)

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Confirmation of Attendance

• All paperwork from PGC Workshops are submitted to the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Office for processing.(Please be aware the approval process can take up to 3 weeks before being cleared to work with children & youth!)

• Once we have cleared the Background Check process and verified attendance of PGC workshop, you will receive an email stating that your attendance has been confirmed if you provided a valid email address upon pre-registration.

• To view or print your attendance date and confirmation sheet, log into VIRTUS Online and enter your USER ID and PASSWORD, (this can be sent to you by the Safe Environment Office or your local Parish/School Safe Environment Coordinator). Print the sheet that states "ATTENDANCE CONFIRMED" along with the date, time, and location of the workshop you attended. If you do not see Attendance Confirmed or it states Account Pending Approval, contact your local SE Coordinator or Safe Environment Office.