St. Thomas the Apostle Child Advocate

Mrs. Donna Marotto, LMFT, OFS is the Child Advocate for St. Thomas the Apostle Parish. She may be reached by phone at (413) 737-8267.

Parish Child Advocate Role and Responsibilities

• In each parish, the Child Advocate is responsible for ensuring that certain Safe Environment protocols are followed.
• These protocols are described in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Articles 12 and 13.

Child Advocates:

• Provide training sessions for relevant employees and volunteers;
• Oversee the completion of all relevant CORIs;
• Ensure that Codes of Conduct are signed and filed at the parish;
• Maintain records for annual compliance audits.

Documentation kept by Child Advocates:

• Create a master list of all parish personnel;
• Identify those who will have contact with children, youth, and vulnerable adults;
• Note dates those relevant individuals
  • Complete CORI form
  • Sign Code of Conduct
  • View video/DVD on reporting abuse

Catechetical Leader Role and Responsibilities

Catechetical Leaders (DREs, CREs, AREs):

Catechetical Leaders ensure that religious education programs follow the Safe Environment protocols described in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Article 12.

Catechetical Leaders:

• Distribute prevention curricula to catechists;
• Ensure that catechists schedule and teach prevention material;
• Maintain a master list of all children and youth enrolled in Religious Education;
• Document attendance;
• File copies of letters sent to parents about prevention material, invitations to meetings, etc.;
• File parent requests that child not participate in prevention education;
• Document prevention resources provided to parents of children who do not participate;
• Document prevention resources provided to parents of new students.