Safe Environment at St. Ann

Archdiocese of Atlanta
24-HourAbuse Reporting Hotline: 1-888-437-0764

Learn about Reporting Abuse: Archdiocese’s Guidance on Reporting Child Abuse

Protecting God’s Children: Safe Environment at St. Ann

The Catholic Church of St. Ann, together with the Archdiocese of Atlanta, is committed to helping children and young people learn and grow in a healthy, safe, and faith-filled environment. Our clergy, staff, and volunteers are specially trained to protect our parish youth and vulnerable adults.

Safe Environment Policy
Our policies are based on procedures established by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002 and updated regularly.

• Training: All volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults must complete VIRTUS: Protecting God’s Children training every five years. VIRTUS Training Workshop
• Mandatory Reporting: Clergy, staff, and volunteers are required by law to report any suspicion of child abuse to state authorities. If you suspect abuse, take action.
• Background Checks: Staff and volunteers must complete a background check every five years.
• Campus Security: During programming hours, only credentialed staff may access classrooms. Staff have also been trained in active shooter and firearm safety protocols.
• Children’s Ministry: Our Launch Religious Education program follows strict policies to ensure the safety of elementary-aged children.
• Social Media: Following archdiocesan guidelines, all parish social media is monitored by staff, and youth do not have direct access to staff or volunteer personal accounts.

We Are Here to Listen and Take Action

• Archdiocesan 24-hour Abuse Reporting Hotline: 1-888-437-0764
• Bishop Abuse Reporting Service: 1-800-276-1562
• Archdiocese of Atlanta Office of Child and Youth Protection: 404-920-7550

The Catholic Church of St. Ann and the Archdiocese of Atlanta are committed to helping children and young people learn and grow in a healthy and safe environment. Our volunteers, clergy and staff have been specially trained to keep our young people safe. 

A set of procedures handed down by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002 and updated regularly is the foundation of St. Ann’s safe environment policy. 

• Training: St. Ann offers safe environment training through a program called VIRTUS: Protecting God’s Children.
  The parish requires all volunteers who work with children or vulnerable adults to go through this course every five years. Sign up for VIRTUS workshops.
• Mandatory reporting: All clergy, staff and volunteers are required to report to state authorities if they have cause to suspect a child is being abused. If you think a child is being abused, take action.
• Background checks: Staff and volunteers are required to submit to a background check every five years. 
• Campus security: Only credentialed staff can access classrooms during programming hours. Staff has also received active shooter and firearms protocol information.
• Launch Children’s Ministry: St. Ann’s religious education program for elementary school-aged children has developed policies to ensure the safety of our parish youth. 
• Social media policy: St. Ann’s communications department has implemented social media policies recommended by the archdiocese, including having employees overseeing social media accounts and restricting access by youth to staff and volunteer accounts.
  
• We are here to listen and take action:
  Archdiocesan 24-hour abuse reporting hotline: 1-888-437-0764
  Abuse hotline for bishops only or 1-800-276-1562
  Archdiocese of Atlanta Office of Child and Youth Protection or 404-920-7550

FAQ