Please read the following guidelines and complete the form below to acknowledge receipt.
Link to document: Archdiocese of Los Angeles - Adults Interacting with Minors

All fields are required.* Every staff member and parent volunteer is required to sign this form.

ARCHDIOCESE OF LOS ANGELES
GUIDELINES FOR ADULTS INTERACTING WITH MINORS AT PARISH OR PARISH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS
(Revised 9/20/2021)

Adults acting in a staff, faculty, ministerial or other paid or volunteer position in the Archdiocese are role models who are called to treat each minor with respect and care. Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers serving either in a paid or volunteer position need to maintain professional relationships with minors whether on or off the parish or parish school locations. Please review the following guidelines and sign the “Acknowledgement of Receipt” for the file at the parish or school where you work or volunteer.

•Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers will ensure that minors are properly supervised at all times, thusproviding them a safe environment. Minors must be viewed as “restricted individuals” because they arenot adults and are not independent.

•If clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers who are supervising minors observe a situation where civillaw, parish and/or school rules are being violated, they must take appropriate action immediately.

•Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers should always be aware they have considerable personal powerbecause of their ministerial positions. Therefore, they will maintain respectful ministerial relationships,avoiding manipulation and other abuses of power.

•Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers must avoid assuming the role of a “father or mother figure,”which may create an excessive emotional attachment for all parties.

•Attraction between adults and minors is possible, and care and caution should be taken in all interactions.The parish/school administration should be informed immediately if such an attraction exists. Dating orsexual relationships between a clergy/staff member/faculty/volunteer and a minor are inappropriate andunethical. Dating or sexual relationships between a clergy/staff member/faculty/volunteer and a minorare unlawful.

•Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers working with minors must be familiar with and follow theAcceptable Use Policy for use of all electronic devices, including those provided by the Archdiocese aswell as personal devices. The Acceptable Use Policy can be found here: https://handbook.la-archdiocese.org/chapter-10/section-10-3

•Communications with minors (e.g., notes, letters, e-mail and Internet exchanges, telephone calls) mustbe for professional reasons only.

•Discussions of a sexual nature must always take place in an appropriate educational context. Sexual jokesor slang are inappropriate when interacting with minors. All pornographic or obscene materials areharmful to minors and must never be on parish/school premises.

•Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers will respect confidential information concerning minors orconfidential information of a personal nature shared by a minor. However, if a minor shares confidentialinformation that could pose a threat to the minor or to others, the clergy/staff member/faculty/volunteerhas an obligation to notify the proper authorities.

When clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers are supervising minors or young adults at parish orparish school- sponsored activities, they may not be under the influence of alcohol, may not consumealcohol in the presence of persons under age 21, nor offer alcohol to them.

•When a clergy/staff member/faculty/volunteer is alone in a room with a minor, the door must be open, orthere must be clear visibility through windows.

•Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers are to engage in games or sports activities with minors only inthe presence of other adults, or in a place openly accessible/visible to others.

•Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers planning parish/school events in their homes with minors musthave the permission of the parish/school administration. In addition, clergy/staffmembers/faculty/volunteers may not have any minors in their homes without the knowledge of theminor’s parent or guardian.

•Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers may not drive minors unless it is to or from a parish/parishschool - sponsored activity and may never drive alone with a minor. Driving minors requires parentalpermission slips that indicate the transportation is by personal vehicle. The parish/parish schooladministration must approve any use of personal vehicles. Trips involving minors must have a sufficientnumber of adult chaperones and minors to preclude the appearance of inappropriate personal involvementwith minors.

•Parent/guardian written permission is required for the publication of a picture of a minor.

•Adults are permitted to interact alone with minor/minors only after complying with Archdiocesan policiesregarding fingerprinting and safe environment training.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RECEIPT OF GUIDELINES FOR ADULTS INTERACTING WITH MINORS AT PARISH/SCHOOL ACTIVITIES OR EVENTS

I have received and agree to comply with the Guidelines for Adults Interacting with Minors at Parish, Parish School, Youth Ministry or Religious Education Activities or Events of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. As stated in the copy of these guidelines: “All adults working or volunteering with minors are also accountable to follow all policies contained in any other ‘Handbooks’ that the parish/school may use’ (i.e.: Catholic Schools Handbook, Parish ministry handbook, etc.). All adults acting in a staff, faculty, ministerial or other paid or volunteer * position in the Archdiocese are role models who are called to treat each minor with respect and care. Clergy/staff members/faculty/volunteers serving either in a paid or volunteer position need to maintain professional relationships with minors whether on or off the parish or parish school locations.” These guidelines are part of the commitment of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to keep children and youth safe and to provide a role model for all minors under our care.