Critical Policies And Guidelines

While each Parish ministry and program is unique in its efforts to meet the needs of our Catholic community, it is only reasonable that each also be required to observe some simple standard requirements and common sense policies.  While the following is NOT a complete list of O.L.S. guidelines, it is nonetheless representative of the types that have been recently developed by the Safeguard the Children Committee of Our Lady of Sorrows.

Individual counseling and the conditions under which the counseling will take place of any child under 18 will be only conducted with the knowledge and approval of his/her parent or guardian.

• All computers will have appropriate software filters installed to eliminate access to internet pornography and video games.

• All staff, paid or unpaid, are prohibited from transporting children to or from Parish and School events, unless otherwise requested in writing by the child's parent or guardian. 

• All staff and volunteers will be fingerprinted.  Paid staff, such as teachers, coaches, etc., will have a background check performed at the time of hiring.

• Teachers, coaches and staff are required to report serious parental complaints on this subject

• All staff, paid or unpaid, will receive VIRTUS training with regard to reporting reasonable suspicions of child abuse.

• Any person within the O.L.S. community with a reasonable suspicion that an instance of child sexual abuse or any other type of child abuse (physical, verbal, or psychological) has occurred should report it to Child Welfare Services of Santa Barbara 800-367-0166 or the Santa Barbara Police Dept. 805-897-2300.