The Office of Child and Youth Protection serves persons who bring forward allegations of sexual abuse by a member of the clergy or by lay employees and volunteers of the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. In addition the Office of Child and Youth Protection oversee and ensure compliance with policies and procedures created to receive and investigate reports of abuse as required by the Holy See, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and the Archdiocese of Saint Louis. In addition the Office of Child and Youth Protection is responsible for the activities and concerns broght before the Archdiocesan Child Safety Committee as well as the Archdiocesan Revew Board.

Prevent and Protect

The Archdiocese's Safe Environment Program requires all adult employees and volunteers who work with or near minors and/or vulnerable adults to comply with the following policy requirements:

• Attend a Protecting God's Children live workshop and complete online updates every three years.
• Understand and sign the Archdiocese's Code of Ethical Conduct for Clergy, Employees, and Volunteers Working in Ministry.
• Complete a national criminal record check and agree to regular updates.

The Protecting God's Children program, developed by VIRTUS® and employed by many dioceses, educates participants to identify the signs of child sexual abuse, understand the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse, and be aware of the steps that can be taken to prevent ongoing or future abuse. 

In addition, students in grades K-9 in archdiocesan schools and parish school of religion programs receive annual age-appropriate instruction in the Safe Touch curriculum to enable them to protect themselves from potential abuse. Discussion topics range from physical boundaries to online safety.

Working in conjunction with the Office of Child and Youth Protection, each parish and archdiocesan school and agency employs a Child Safety Coordinator (CSC) whose role is to ensure employee and volunteer compliance with the three Safe Environment policy requirements outlined above. The CSC maintains the parish, school or agency's records of compliance which are audited annually by the Office of Child and Youth Protection.

The Child Safety Coordinator at St. John Bosco is Anita Walth. You may contact her at (314) 434-1312 ext 4 or anita.walth@stjohnboscostl.com

Employees and Volunteers

The link for both the current schedule for Protecting God's Children workshops and compliance registration is: www.preventandprotectstl.org.

Prevent and Protect

Victims of sexual abuse, in addition to contacting civil authorities, are asked to come forward in order to receive pastoral assistance. Reports of abuse may be made to any Pastor or to:  

* Sandra Price, Executive Director - Office of Child & Yourth Protection  

314-792-7271 or    sandraprice@archstl.org

*Missouri Department of Social Services Children's Division

Child Abuse and Neglect HotlineHotline 1-800-392-3738

*Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services

Adult Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 1-800-392-0210