STANDARDS
FOR ALL SCHOOL WORKERS REGARDING INTERACTION WITH YOUTH
(1) School
workers must be aware of their own and others’ vulnerability to appearance or
perception of impropriety when working alone with youth. At all times, School
workers should, therefore, use a team approach to managing youth
activities. At least two adults (preferably a team of several adults)
will organize and supervise youth activities.
(2) Except
in an emergency or urgent circumstances involving the youth’s safety, School
workers shall never be alone with a youth during any school activity or
setting. For example, adults should avoid situations that put them in a
position of being alone with a minor in a rectory, parish building, school, or
other closed room (except as required for the Sacrament of Reconciliation).
(3) School
workers will observe careful boundaries concerning any type of physical contact
with youth. Beyond a simple handshake or a friendly, brief hug, any
physical contact should only take place in public circumstances, and prudent
discretion and respect should be applied by School workers in order to avoid
any appearance of impropriety.
(4) Clergy
and religious shall never permit a youth to stay overnight in their private
accommodations or residence nor shall clergy or religious ever be permitted to
share a room overnight with a youth. An exception can be made in the case
of immediate family members of the clergy or religious, provided that a parent
or adult guardian of the youth also stays overnight and that separate
accommodations are provided for the youth and his or her parent or adult
guardian.
(5) School workers will not provide shared, private, overnight
accommodations for individual youths, including, but not limited to,
accommodations in any Church-owned facility, private residence, hotel room, or
any other place where there is no other adult supervision present.
(a) School
workers will use a team approach to managing emergency situations.A
team of adults will consult with each other about the best approach to take in
emergency situations.
(6) School
workers are prohibited from taking youth home or to another location unless
another adult is present in the vehicle or the parent/guardian of the youth has
given express prior permission. School workers likewise shall not permit
other adults to take a youth home or to another location unless at least two
adults will be present in the vehicle or the parent/guardian of the youth has
given express prior permission.
(7) School
workers shall not give gifts to a specific youth under their care or
supervision unless a gift is given to all other youth under their care, and
even in such situations, any such gifts shall be modest, inexpensive tokens of
friendship or appreciation. This provision shall not be construed from
precluding clergy and religious from giving gifts to youth who are members of
their immediate families, such as nieces and nephews.
(8) School
workers will familiarize themselves with, and understand the contents of, the
child abuse regulations and reporting requirements for the State of California,and will comply with those mandates. School workers shall also
complete, in a timely manner, any safe environment and/or youth protection
training required of them.
(9) School workers
shall take all necessary action to ensure that that no one working with youth
is either in possession of illegal drugs or under the influence of alcohol or
illegal drugs. School workers shall take all necessary action to ensure
that youth under their care or supervision do not have access to illegal drugs
or alcohol. School workers may never serve or supply alcohol to youth or
adults under the age of 21. Persons under 21 may, of course, partake of
both species of the Eucharist, including the Precious Blood, according to the
norms of canon law.