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The Episcopal Church in East Tennessee -

Safe Church, Safe Communities

The National Church has been working hard to create new training modules that are inclusive and modern. The new materials should be available in late Spring/early Summer 2022. We are really looking forward to their release. Trainers will be trained in early fall in the new material. Until then, we will be offering Safeguarding God’s Children and Safeguarding God’s People.

As of March 20, 2022, we are again requiring first-time certifications to be in-person or on Zoom. We amended this requirement during the pandemic when we were not comfortable gathering. Now that we are gathering, we are back to requiring this first-time certifications to be in-person or on Zoom.

We are looking for Safe Church trainers! Trainers will travel in their designated region for trainings, will offer Zoom trainings, and offer trainings at their home parish. Interested in becoming a trainer? Please email Caroline Wood at cwood@dioet.org.

 

Please click here if you work or volunteer at an Episcopal School.

 

In-Person Training

Please click the training you would like to attend to register.

 

Zoom Training

Zoom Training is available to those who need to get certified for the first time or those who are looking to renew! This training is interactive so your camera and microphone must work for you to get certified.

Please click the date you are interested in to register.

 

Wednesday, July 6th from 7:00pm-9:00pm

Wednesday, August 17th from 7:00pm-9:00pm

Wednesday, September 14th from 7:00pm-9:00pm

Certificate Renewal and Safeguarding God's People Training

Please use the link below to request an account for your Safeguarding God’s Children certificate renewal or to take Safeguarding God’s People (only available online).

You are eligible to renew your Safe Church certificate online if you have taken training in the last three years. If your certificate it more than three years old, you are required to complete the training in-person or on Zoom.

If you have previously completed training online, please visit: https://www.praesidiumacademy.com/learn/ to access your account.

Request Online Account

 

FAQ

 

 

  • Q: Who is required to go through training?

    A: Anyone who serves in our churches, schools, or camps as a volunteer or paid worker. This includes but is not limited to clergy, youth and children’s ministers, vestry members, key holders, lay leaders, all paid church staff, and summer/day camp workers/volunteers.

  • Q: How long does the training take?

    A: Safeguarding God’s Children will take about two hours online and three hours in person.

    Our new material, Safe Church, Safe Communities In-Person training will take about two hours. The online courses will take about an hour and half, depending on which courses you are required to take.

  • Q: Do I have to take all two and a half hours?

    A: Depending on your role in the church, you will be required to take a certain number of courses. For example, clergy will take all ten courses while key holders will take five courses.

  • Q: I took the training in 1998. Haven’t I already been trained?

    A: The Diocese of East Tennessee adopted the Safeguarding God’s Children curriculum in 2003. Those who attended any prevention of child sexual abuse training prior to that time have not completed the training workshop that is currently required. Further, if it has been more than three years since going through the in-person training, you will need to take the in-person training again.

  • Q: How often do I need to go through the training?

    A: Initially, one must complete the full, in-person training before beginning employment or volunteer work with the parish. After the initial training, one must complete an online renewal course every three years.

  • Q: I’ve heard there’s online training available. Can’t I just take that instead?

    A: Online training is available only in these situations:

    1. An individual has been hired as parish/camp/school staff, or has signed on as a volunteer, and begins work in a time frame that makes it impossible to get through an in-person training before the start date. That individual may take an online version of the training only as a stopgap, but must still attend the next available in-person training.
    2. It has been no more than three years since the last training, and the individual needs to renew training certification.
    3. An individual has been through the in-person training but has been asked to take one or more of the ministry-specific online modules pertaining to her/his area of ministry (summer camp, day school, etc.)
  • Q: How do I find out about available training workshops, or sign up for online renewal?

    A: Sign-Up for In-Person Trainings here.

    Sign-Up for Online Renewal here.

  • What do I do after I've finished my online courses?

    Please share your transcript with your parish’s Safe Church coordinator.

    You can print your transcript by:

    1. Click the grey circle with your initials in it on the top right-hand corner.
    2. Click “Transcript”
    3. Click “Print Transcript”
  • Which courses do I take online?

    The courses you are required to take for Safeguarding God’s Children are:
    1) Meet Sam
    2) It Happened to Me
    3) Abuse Prevention Refresher
    4) Policies of East Tennessee

    The courses you are required to take for Safeguarding God’s People are:
    1)Safeguarding God’s People: Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workers.

     

    **Please note: this will be changing in Spring 2022. The National Church is creating new materials.

Safe Church Policies

Please note: All parishes have been sent or have received in person a hard copy of the policies and forms.

 

Annual Adoption Forms

Questions about the policies, training, or specific questions about Safeguarding God’s Children please contact Caroline Wood, cwood@dioet.org, 865-966-2119.