Clergy, employees and volunteers are required to attend a VIRTUS Child Protection training session and read and sign a
code of conduct.
 
In addition, we are required to have a thorough background check, including a criminal history, completed for each clergy, employee
or volunteer. We do this for their protection and for the  protection of children and young people, and the parish as a whole.

Our children are the most important gifts God has entrusted to us. As a volunteer, I promise to strictly follow the rules and guidelines
 in this Employee's and Volunteer’s Code of Conduct as a condition of my providing services to the children and youth
of our parish.  

As an employee or volunteer, I will:

- Treat everyone with respect, loyalty, patience, integrity, courtesy, dignity, and consideration.
- Avoid situations where I am alone with children and/or youth at Church activities.
- Use positive reinforcement rather than criticism, competition, or comparison when working with children and/or youth.
- Refuse to accept expensive gifts from children and/or youth or their parents without prior written approval from the pastor.
- Refrain from giving expensive gifts to children and/or youth without prior written approval from the parents or guardian
   and the pastor.
- Report suspected abuse to the pastor, administrator, or appropriate supervisor and the New York State Child Registry
  (1-800-342-3720). I understand that failure to report suspected abuse to civil authorities is, according to the law,
   a misdemeanor.
- Cooperate fully in any investigation of abuse of children and/or youth.  

As an employee or volunteer, I will not:

- Smoke or use tobacco products in the presence of children and/or youth.
- Use, possess, or be under the influence of alcohol at any time while volunteering.
- Use, possess, or be under the influence of illegal drugs at any time.
- Pose any health risk to children and/or youth (i.e., no fevers or other contagious situations).
- Strike, spank, shake, or slap children and/or youth.
- Humiliate, ridicule, threaten, or degrade children and/or youth.
- Touch a child and/or youth in a sexual or other inappropriate manner.
- Use any discipline that frightens or humiliates children and/or youth.
- Use profanity in the presence of children and/or youth.