PARENTS PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER HAS TURNED IN ALL OF THEIR SPORT UNIFORMS. THE ONLY SPORT THAT YOU GET TO KEEP YOUR SHIRT IS GOLF. EVERYTHING ELSE MUST BE TURNED BACK INTO THE SCHOOL. THANK YOU
PARENTS IN ORDER FOR ANYONE TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP OUT IN ANY WAY WITH THE SPORTS PROGRAM YOU MUST BE EIM COMPLIANT. THIS INCLUDES COACHING, HELPING THE COACHES, WORKING IN THE CONCESSION STAND, TAKING MONEY UP AT THE DOOR, GIVING RIDES TO GAMES, ETC. I KNOW THAT THIS MAY SEEM LIKE A HASSLE BUT IT IS THE POLICY OF THE DIOCESE OF AUSTIN AND WE MUST ABIDE BY THE POLICIES. WE HERE AT ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC SCHOOL WANT TO AVOID ANY POTENTIAL ISSUES AND BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE DIOCESE OF AUSTIN. WE WANT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS TO BE SAFE.
HERE IS THE WEB SITE OF THE DIOCESE OF AUSTIN FOR INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN SIGN UP AND TAKE THE WORKSHOP AT.
http://www.austindiocese.org/department_home.php?id=9#workshop
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.
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.
a. 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.
b. 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.
i. 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.