The Diocese of Dallas maintains the Safe Environment screening and training records of all applicants in a Database that is used by Diocesan churches, schools, and  entities. This unified database facilitates the sharing of records between parishes and schools in the Diocese.

New Volunteers, Employees: If you have not been previously screened by any church or school in the Diocese of Dallas, there are multiple forms you must complete as part of the Screening Process.

•   Acknowledgment Form:  This form affirms that you have read, understood, and will adhere to the instructions and guidelines set forth in the Safe Environment Program Booklet and the Sexual Misconduct Policy and Ministerial Code of Conduct, to which all Diocesan and Parochial Personnel (which includes all priests, employees, and volunteers) are subject. If you have any questions on the program content, please email Nancy Gray at sppneg @ sbcglobal.net.   Click to get the Acknowledgement Form: Acknowledgement Form  

•   Reference Form:  We must have written documentation for three references. Each person you use as a reference must be someone that has known you at least 3 years and is not a member of your immediate family or a relative. If you included email addresses for your references when you completed your online screening form, our database system will automatically contact them. (If you did not include email addresses, but would like to add them, email Nancy Gray at sppneg @ sbcglobal.net with those addresses and she will update your online form so that automatic email requests may be sent.)  Alternatively, you must download, print and complete 3 copies of the Reference Form and then give one to each of your references to be returned directly by them to the church. Further instructions regarding the Reference Form are found on the form itself.   Click to get form: Reference Form.

•   Interview:  Each applicant must complete a face-to-face interview. An interview may be conducted by the ministry or program leader with whom you plan to serve or by the St. Patrick Parish Safety Director. It is the applicant’s responsibility to complete an interview either at one of the “first come, first served” special interview sessions typically held for 1-1/2 hours prior to Family of Faith training sessions held at St. Patrick Parish, or, if an applicant cannot complete an interview then, to schedule one with the Safety Director (Nancy Gray) by contacting her at sppneg @ sbcglobal.net or call the church office at 214-348-7380.  Important Note: Interview appointments may generally be scheduled Monday – Wednesdays, 7:30 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.

•   Family of Faith Training Session:  Each applicant must attend a training session. These are held approximately once each 6-8 weeks, generally in the school lecture room, usually on Sunday afternoons from noon – 1:30 p.m. (with open interviews from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m.) Training sessions are announced in the church bulletin and also in the monthly School Newsletter. They are also posted on the Diocesan website at www.CathDal.org under “Safe Environment.” You may attend training at another parish if that is more convenient. If you attend at another parish, be sure they give you a training certificate of your attendance for you to drop off at the church office. Some parishes may send the training certificates directly to the church office rather than give them to the applicant.   We request applicants “register” for a class by finding the appropriate class here and clicking on “register.” Click here to find training sessions: http://dallas.setanet.org/classes.php.

•   Criminal Background Check:  A request for a criminal background check will be submitted only after all paperwork and training has been completed by the applicant.  Background checks are conducted and documented by a Diocesan approved vendor, currently Accutrak, from information the applicant provides on the Screening Form.   Applicants with “automatic disqualifying offenses” (as defined in the Program Booklet) in their background are automatically prohibited from serving.

•   Notification of Clearance to Serve:  When you have successfully completed all requirements for screening, you will receive a “confirmation email” of your clearance. (If you do not have email address, you will receive a phone call (or a message will be left on an answering machine) of your clearance.) You may NOT serve in any capacity until all requirements have been met. To do so is a serious violation of Diocesan and Parish policy. It is important to note that once you are cleared to serve, you must update your training annually no later than the last day of the month in which the 12-month anniversary of your last training occurred. If we have a current email address on file for you, we notify you on or about the first of the month in which your training will expire with 1-2 reminders to follow. If you do not update by the DEADLINE (the last day of the month), you will become immediately ineligible to serve and may be required to attend a class session to reinstate your clearance.