Episcopal Diocese of Rochester
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Required Training + Church Safety

NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention for Employees (Clergy & Lay)

&

Safeguarding Training for Church Leadership, Volunteers & Employees 

 

All Churches and separate organizations with employees (Clergy and/or Lay) must have adopted the NYS Sexual Harassment Policy by Oct. 9, 2018.  If you have not done so, please have your vestry adopt it at your next meeting. Make sure the (4) documents below are accessible to all employees.

Parish Sexual Harassment NYS Prevention Policy.docx

Mission Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy

Sexual Harassment Prevention Poster.docx (Fill in the yellow highlighted and post in your church with other employment posters)

Sexual Harassment Complaint Form.docx (Make available to all employees)

NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention Training Required Annually for all Employees (Clergy & Lay)

Below are sample snapshots of the required (2) training modules for all employees. The 1st module below says for Managers & Supervisors. This model includes additional information we feel is pertinent to all employees. Please take this instead of the module for employees.

The 2nd module "Know Your Policies" contains the Diocesan Harassment Policy, NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy, Complaint Form, and the Safeguarding All People Policy. This module is required for all church Employees, Church Leadership, Volunteers, & anyone with access to the building(s).

See sample course headers below:

Access  All Training Online:

Below you will find instructions for enrolling and logging in to the training as well as helpful hints to ensure you retain the information presented in the courses. Contact Praesidium for technical support at support@praesidiuminc.com or 817-801-7773.

If you have any questions along the way, contact your church leadership or the Diocesan office at 585-473-2977.

 

If you do not have a training account or you have forgotten your login credentials: 

Go to the website. PraesidiumInc.com/enroll.
Enter the registration code: edroch1
Fill out the form and click the link to enroll.
Print the page or write down your user login and password for future reference.
To begin taking training immediately, click the link or follow the instructions to the right to login later.

If you know your login credentials: 

Go to www.safeguardingonline.org and click the link at the bottom.
Enter your user login and password. Then click log in.
Click on the course image or title to begin. 

Safeguarding: Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Awareness

The policy of the Diocese of Rochester is that all clergy, church employees, and many other lay leaders must have training in both children & youth abuse awareness and adult misconduct prevention.  

Please see the Safeguarding Policies below for a list of those who require training. We ask that you refresh your training every THREE years. Online and in-person training are fully interchangeable. 

Access Online Safeguarding Training 

Below you will find instructions for enrolling and logging in to training as well as helpful hints to ensure you retain the information presented in the courses. If you have any questions along the way, contact your parish Safe Training administrator. You may also contact Praesidium technical support at support@praesidiuminc.com or 817-801-7773.

If you have never done Safe Church Training before or have forgotten your login credentials: 

  1. Go to website.PraesidiumInc.com/enroll.
  2. Enter the registration code: edroch1
  3. Fill out the form and click the link to enroll.
  4. Print the page or write down your user login and password for future reference.
  5. To begin taking training immediately, click the link or follow the instructions to the right to login later.

If you know your login credentials: 

  1. Go to www.safeguardingonline.org and click the link at the bottom.
  2. Enter your user login and password. Then click log in.
  3. Click on the course image or title to begin. 

Top Tips for Training

First Time Training Requirements

  • Meet Sam

  • It Happened to Me

  • Keeping Your Church Safe

  • Your Policies - "Know Your Policies" 

  • Abuse Risk Management for Volunteers

 

Required Refresher every 3 years

  • Abuse Prevention Refresher

  • NEW  Your Policies - "Know Your Policies" ( Includes EDOR Safeguarding, NYS Sexual Harassment Prevention Policy and more)

          

 

1. Right Place, Right Time

Set the right conditions for learning. Create an environment with no interruptions, no phone calls, and no distractions. Set aside 30-45 minutes for each course so you do not have to hurry.

2. Take Your Time

Have patience and take your time. Read carefully to make sure you fully understand the content. Rather than rushing through the training, plan to complete only one or two courses each time you log in so you can really absorb what you’ve learned. If you need to pause and continue training later, the course will start again from the section where you left off.

3. Follow the Arrows

When it’s time to move to the next page, an arrow will appear at the bottom right corner. When prompted, click the arrow to move forward.

4. Think About It

Finally, pause and think about what you are learning. roughout the course, think about how you can apply what you are learning to your own position. We know that with proper concentration you can understand and apply what you learn. When you pass the quiz at the end of the course, you will earn credit. 

If you are a parish Safe Church administrator or rector and need help, contact Sarah Butler 585-473-0903.

Diocesan Policies & Forms

NEW 2019  Model Policy for Safeguarding All People & the Protection of Children, Youth, and Vulnerable Adults

Sexual Harassment Discussion Guide for Employees in NYS

Church Safety

With the many occasions of gun violence, here are various resources including those from the Department of Homeland Security for you to review for your parish.  Creating a plan in case of a threat or attack in your parish is most important!  Please reach out if you need any other assistance.
The Dept. of Homeland Security provides printable & video resources: an animated video that might be easier for some to watch.

Active Shooter Preparedness documents.

It's imperative to have an Emergency Action Plan.  Here are worksheets for you to create an Emergency Action Plan.

Please review the Active Shooter Recovery Guide.

In this dynamic threat environment, it is also important that organizations not only prepare their staff to respond to a potential incident but also collectively determine the processes through which the organization and its staff recover from an incident.