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At Santa Clara of Assisi Catholic Academy, we are deeply grateful for the time, talent, and dedication of our volunteers. To ensure a safe, respectful, and nurturing environment for all students, every volunteer—new and returning—is required to complete the following Safe Environment steps before serving in any capacity.
As educators at Santa Clara Catholic Academy, we have a moral and legal responsibility for the well-being of minors and vulnerable adults as they pursue their education and participate in activities within our school community. We have a fundamental obligation and deep commitment to provide a safe and nurturing environment for our students and their families.
In order to achieve this, the Diocese of Dallas has a Safe Environment Program that implements training, screening, background checks and other procedures that are designed to reduce the risk of sexual abuse of children and vulnerable adults. Santa Clara, along with surrounding parishes, the Diocese of Dallas, and other Catholic schools, each have the program and is responsible for the program implementation and continuation.
For more information on Safe Environment, including the Safe Environment documentation, please see the Diocesan Safe Environment Webpage.
Any staff member or volunteer working with children must be Safe Environment cleared. This requires the following steps:
1. Training video: All new volunteers must begin by completing the required Safe Environment training video. This training outlines key principles for maintaining a safe environment at Santa Clara of Assisi Catholic Academy and provides essential guidance on recognizing, preventing, and responding to potential risks. This step reinforces our shared commitment to protecting and safeguarding every student in our care.
Complete Training on VIRTUS Online2. In-person interview: After completing the training video, new volunteers will participate in a brief in-person interview. This meeting is designed to:
3. Character reference checks: Santa Clara of Assisi Catholic Academy will contact the references provided by each new volunteer to help assess character, reliability, and suitability for working with students. This step supports our commitment to building a trustworthy and responsible volunteer community.
4. Background check: All new volunteers must successfully complete a comprehensive background check prior to beginning service. To maintain the highest safety standards, background checks must be renewed annually or as required by Santa Clara of Assisi Catholic Academy policy. Commitment to ongoing safety: All volunteers, new and returning, are expected to uphold Santa Clara of Assisi Catholic Academy's Safe Environment policies at all times. Continued participation is contingent upon maintaining compliance with all training, screening, and conduct requirements.
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Please direct all questions regarding Safe Environment to Martha Mendez, Safe Environment Director. Tel: 214-333-9423.
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800 252 5400
(if an emergency call 911)
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of Assisi Catholic Academy
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