Ethics and Integrity in Ministry

   DIOCESE OF AUSTIN ~ ETHICS AND INTEGRITY IN MINISTRY

Who needs to be EIM compliant, and why?
On Jan. 1, 2002, the Catholic Diocese of Austin instated policies on Ethics and Integrity in Ministry (EIM) for all employees and adult volunteers who minister to youth or vulnerable adults in the diocese. These policies were revised in August 2008 and again in 2011. Clergy, religious, paid staff and all volunteers working with youth and/or vulnerable adults at any parish, Catholic school or diocesan location are required to complete an Application for Ministry/background check, and attend an EIM workshop every three years. Compliance with EIM policies, by persons who do ministry where minors and vulnerable adults may be present, provides educated eyes and ears and voices to assist our church is doing all that it can to keep young people and vulnerable adults safe from preventable harm. We are all called to protect.

What does “working with youth and/or vulnerable adults” mean?
Per EIM policies (visit the EIM page at www.austindiocese.org), WORK OR SERVICE IN MINISTRY WITH MINORS AND/OR VULNERABLE ADULTS pertains to any ministry, program or organization that serves youth or vulnerable adults in any manner, or which functions at a time and place where minors or vulnerable adults are typically present.

1. A listing of such ministries/programs or organizations includes, but is not limited to: religious education, youth ministry, Catholic schools, homeschooling organizations that use church property or identify as a parish ministry, homebound/hospital ministry, parish nursery and mother’s day out/pre-school programs, liturgical ministries (i.e. hospitality/ushers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, choir/music ministry, etc), societies of St Vincent de Paul, parish/school sponsored scout groups and other activities/programs for youth.

   1. EIM compliance is required for the leadership of parish and diocesan organizations that may serve youth even though their primary function is not necessarily to serve youth (i.e. ladies/men’s clubs, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Peter Claver, Serra Club/vocations ministry, etc); for members of such organization the EIM compliance requirement may be waived if participation is limited to times and places when minors are not present.

   2. Pastors and principals may determine that those in any parish/school leadership position (i.e. ministry and organization leaders and Pastoral, Finance and Stewardship Council members, school advisory board members) should be in compliance with these diocesan EIM policies as a symbol of leadership within the parish/school and support of the policies of the church.

   3. The pastor or principal may choose to include additional ministries/ organizations to this listing at the local level.

How to report an incident of concern
The Diocese of Austin is committed to preventing harm from happening to any of our children or vulnerable adults. If you are aware of sexual or physical abuse and/or neglect of a child or vulnerable adult, state law requires you to report that information to local law enforcement or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services at (800) 252-5400 or www.dfps.state.tx.us. Additionally, if the suspected abuse is by a priest, deacon or an employee or volunteer of any diocesan parish, school or agency, a Notice of Concern should be submitted to the diocesan Office of Ethics and Integrity in Ministry at (512) 949-2400. The Notice of Concern can be found at www.austindiocese.org (click on the link HOW TO REPORT ABUSE).

How do I become EIM compliant?

1. An EIM Application for Ministry must be submitted (one time only) prior to volunteering, or for new employees, within the first week of employment (a condition of continued employment). Submitting the EIM application permits the Diocese of Austin to run a background check and also creates an account to record your EIM workshop history. The completed application may be submitted online or a paper copy can be completed/ submitted (visit the EIM page at www.austindiocese.org). All sections of the application must be completed in order to submit; incomplete applications are deleted out of the database periodically.

   1. You should access your own EIM account to view the status of your application (see below) or contact your parish/school office for assistance. You will not be contacted by the EIM Office unless there is an issue with your application or background check.

   2. Within 60 days of submitting the EIM application, applicants must attend an EIM Basic workshop and that date must be recorded in the applicant’s EIM account or the account will be noted as **non-compliant** and may be archived. The EIM workshop schedule is on the diocesan website or may be obtained by contacting your parish/school.

      1. If you are a victim of sexual abuse and have concerns regarding your attendance at a workshop, please contact the EIM Office at (512) 949-2447 to discuss an alternative workshop arrangement.

What if I work primarily with vulnerable adults?
At this time our workshop program materials specifically address minors. However, the information provided regarding boundary violations and warning signs can be generalized to behaviors used by perpetrators of abuse against vulnerable adults as well. Supplemental education for those who work primarily with vulnerable adults is being reviewed at this time for future use.
How do I remain EIM compliant?
All persons serving in any ministry that requires EIM compliance must attend an EIM ‘refresher’ workshop every three years.

1. If your current workshop date is more than 3 years past, the EIM account will be noted as non-compliant you will not be permitted to serve in ministry until a workshop is recorded in your account. Employees are reminded that EIM compliance is a condition of continued employment.

2. To fulfill this ‘refresher’ requirement, persons may attend either the EIM Basic Workshop (3 hours) or the EIM Refresher Workshop (1½ hrs) that is most convenient.

   1. To determine when you need to attend a ‘refresher’, or to verify if you qualify to attend a ‘refresher’, go to https://www.eappsdb.com/Login.asp?ORGZ_KEY=4. If you don’t recall your User ID/Password, please use the Alternate Login option to access your EIM account. Place your cursor over “Workshop Dates” to find your previous workshop information.

      1. If your EIM account is noted as “archived”, please contact your parish/school EIM site administrator or the EIM Office.

3. The EIM Application for Ministry is submitted only one time.

   1. EIM applications may be updated as needed, but cannot be re-submitted. Name changes should be made with the EIM Office directly.

   2. A background check is re-run every 3 years from the date of initial application submission; this is an automated process that does not require any additional action on your part.

What else?

1. A volunteer applicant should be a registered member of the parish/school community for at least six months prior to beginning work or service in ministry with minors or vulnerable adults (or a registered member of a parish within the Diocese of Austin).

2. In general, minors do not complete the EIM process and should not be placed in any supervisory-type position typically reserved for adults. Persons who turn 18 while still in high school must complete the EIM process if they serve in any ministry at the parish/school or have any leadership role in the youth ministry program.

3. When minors and young adults are members of the same organization, the young adult members (18 and older) must be compliant with EIM policies.

4. There should be at least two EIM compliant adults supervising any program involving minors; at the minimum one adult must be 21+ years of age. One adult should never be alone with one minor.

5. Chaperones assigned to transport minors must be at least 25 years old; requests for exceptions must be submitted to the Chancellor.

Are there programs for children and teenagers?

1. Called to Protect for Youth is an interactive safety education program for middle school and high school students to help them understand their sacredness and how to prevent others from violating their emotional, physical and behavioral boundaries. CTPY is not a human sexuality education program, nor does it fulfill the EIM requirement for serving in ministry to minors.

2. Called to Protect for Children is the safety education piece of our diocesan EIM program designed specifically for elementary grade students K-5. CTPC focuses on understanding rules, appropriate touch, boundaries, how to respond to uncomfortable situations and introduces technology safety; it is not human sexuality education, is curriculum-based and is taught by the catechist.

3. Parishes and schools in the Diocese of Austin are required to provide the Called to Protect for Youth program annually for their 6th and 9th graders; students in other middle and high school grades new to the parish/school should also be invited. They are also required to use Called to Protect for Children annually to help educate our K-5th grade students about abuse prevention and personal safety.

4. Parents will receive information regarding CTPY and CTPC at the beginning of the school year from the parish religious education office or Catholic school principal.

Pastoral support for victims of sexual abuse
The Diocese of Austin is committed to providing confidential and compassionate care to victims of sexual abuse, particularly if the abuse was committed by clergy or a church representative. If you have experienced abuse by someone representing the Catholic Church, please contact the diocesan Coordinator of Pastoral Care at (512) 949-2400.

God of mercy and love, you call us to a life of holiness and provide us with the means to live by your wisdom and love. You entrust to us the work of your creation, especially the care and protection of children and others who are vulnerable. You sent your Spirit to guide us in our responsibilities for building up your family of believers. By that same Spirit, help us as we learn and work together to help protect all of our sisters and brothers from preventable harm and keep all your children safe. Grace us with faith, courage, hope, understanding and charity as we embrace the way you set before us to live the truth of the Gospel in love. We pray for all victims of abuse, that they know your love and healing, and for all perpetrators of abuse that they may have a true conversion of heart and turn to you. Amen

For more information regarding the Diocese of Austin’s policies on Ethics and Integrity in Ministry,
please navigate to the EIM page at www.austindiocese.org or contact the diocesan EIM Office at 512-949-2447.