Safe Environment
Safe Environment Program Coordinator
Bryan Finley
Email: sep@kofcdallas.org
Phone: (214) 914-4163
Home Council 12300
PGK
How do I login to the new DDC SEP Compliance System?
If you know that your Council’s roster data has been submitted to us and imported into our database, then you can login. If not, please contact your Grand Knight or Council SEP Director for guidance.
To go to the login page click the red button above or on the link below:
https://member.kofchost.com/wp-admin
Enter your Membership Number in the first field.
Enter your temporary Password in the second field.
- For Password use your four digit birthday year then add your membership number at the end, separate them with a dash (minus sign).
- Password example: if you were born in 2001 and your membership number is 1234567, then your password will be: 2001-1234567
After you login, be sure to update your profile, check your date of birth, email address and phone number, then change your password.
Lost your password?
If you lost or forgot your password you will have to reset it, your password is encrypted on the server and it cannot be retrieved.
- Click on “Lost your password?” below the Login button
- The system will prompt you for your Membership Number then click the button to confirm
- An email will be sent to your email address on file from no-reply@kofchosting.com
- Click on the link in the email to reset your password
Introducing the New DDC SEP Compliance System
Our new DDC SEP compliance system is up and running. Approximately half the councils have submitted their membership rosters and many brother Knights have already participated in the program. If your council has not yet submitted a roster, please do so now.
KofC Safe Environment Program
Knights of Columbus > Safe Environment
The Knights of Columbus Safe Environment Program safeguards children and other vulnerable persons, assures members and their families that we maintain a safe environment, protects members from awkward situations, misunderstandings, and appearances of impropriety, builds trust with arch/dioceses and parishes, and protects the good name of the Knights of Columbus.
The Knights of Columbus Office of Youth Protection has stated that the first requirement of our safe environment program is for our members to be aware of and compliant with Diocesan safe environment requirements applicable to members volunteering in activities on parish property.
The Dallas Diocese considers the Knights a Non-Parish Based Organization (NPBO). These NPBO’s are required to maintain their own safe environment records and are subject to audit which requests the last Safe Environment training date (to be complete annually) and the last background check date (completed every 2 years) of all volunteers that are engaged in activities where there is direct contact with youth and or vulnerable persons.
There are two different scenarios which come into play for Knights of Columbus members regarding safe environment training
- If a Knight is involved in parish ministry(ies) that require Safe Environment training, then the Council Safe Environment Coordinator should work with the parish Safe Environment Coordinator to see that training is completed. Please see the information further down this page regarding Dallas Diocese Safe Environment Training.
- If a Knight is not involved in parish ministries the council is responsible for clearing that volunteer.
The following is required to be safe environment trained.
- Review the Knights of Columbus Safe Environment Program for Knights of Columbus Entities and return completed Acknowledgement form to Council Safe Environment coordinator.
- Have background check completed and updated every 2 years. The Knights of Columbus Status Consent Form and The Knights of Columbus Volunteer Release Form should be returned to Council’s Safe Environment Coordinator. The Council is responsible for cost of background check ($15.00).
- Complete Safe Environment training offered through Supreme, Diocese or other safe environment resources. Check with parish safe environment coordinator.
SEP Q&A
Must members comply with applicable Diocesan Safe Environment requirements to volunteer on parish or diocesan property?
YES. Members of the Knights of Columbus must remain informed of, and compliant with, diocesan and parish safe environment requirements generally applicable to all volunteers on diocesan and parish property.
- All prospective and new members of the Knights of Columbus are strongly encouraged to take an active role in the life of their parish and their council.
- Prospective and new members should also be promptly advised of any applicable parish/diocese safe environment policy requirements necessary to be eligible to volunteer on parish property, regardless of whether they do so in the name of the Church, the parish, or the Knights of Columbus.
Do members who serve in youth activities sponsored by the Knights of Columbus do so as knights or parishioners or both?
Members volunteering in youth activities sponsored by the Knights of Columbus on parish property serve as both Knights and parishioners.
- Knights who volunteer in youth activities sponsored by the Knights of Columbus on parish property do so as both Knights and parishioners.
- Therefore, members volunteering in these youth activities are subject to both diocesan requirements and Knights of Columbus Safe Environment Program requirements.
- Knights who volunteer in non-youth activities sponsored by the Knights of Columbus on parish property may be subject to diocesan requirements generally applicable to those who volunteer on diocesan and parish property.
Does the council pay for the background check if a Knight is not a volunteer in other parish activities (in which case the Catholic Diocese pays)?
To be updated soon! Thank you for your patience.
How much does running a background check cost?
Approximately $15 – $25.
Can someone articulate or provide a document for the best method of tracking compliance at the Council level?
Once a year all councils must submit to the DDC SEP Coordinator a record of all Knights who are Diocesan SEP Trained and Diocesan SEP Cleared (background checked). This list can be requested from the Parish’s SEP Coordinator and should include at minimum the following data:
- Knight’s Name:
- Member Number:
- Council Number:
- Diocesan SEP Training Completion Date:
- Diocesan SEP Cleared (background check) Date:
- KofC (Praesidium Academy) SEP Training Completion Date:
- KofC (Praesidium Academy) SEP Background Check Completion Date: (may be the same as above)
- Member’s Leadership Role for which KofC (Praesidium Academy) SEP Training was required:
The parish SEP Coordinator may send email reminders to all parish volunteers who have an expiring date approaching so they can renew their Diocesan SEP certification.
It is highly recommended that the Council’s SEP Coordinator keep a simple spreadsheet of the above records for each council member (see sample below). It is up to each member Knight to report the dates of SEP completion to the council’s SEP Coordinator by providing a copy of the certificate, either from the Diocese or from Supreme.
| FirstName | LastName | Council# | Member# | DIOCESAN SEP DATES | KOFC SEP DATES | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Training | Background Check | Training | Background Check | Leader Role | ||||
| Jorge | Ruiz | 8157 | 4570670 | 2021-09-30 | 2020-07-17 | 2021-08-08 | 2021-08-08 | Grand Knight |
| John | Doe | 8157 | 1234567 | 2022-03-30 | 2022-04-17 | 2021-08-08 | 2021-08-08 | Community |
| Martin | De Porres | 8157 | 2234567 | 2023-07-30 | 2023-08-10 | 2021-08-08 | 2021-08-08 | Family |
| Aurelius | Augustinus | 8157 | 3234567 | 2021-09-30 | 2020-07-17 | 2022-08-08 | 2022-08-08 | Program |
Are members who pay their dues, but choose not to volunteer on parish property, members in good standing with the Knights of Columbus?
YES. Dues paying members choosing not to volunteer on parish property remain members in good standing.
- A member who declines to submit to diocesan/parish safe environment requirements remains a member in good standing, although he may be prohibited from volunteering on parish property.
- Such members remain eligible to volunteer in programs, activities, and events sponsored by the Knights of Columbus that do not take place on parish property.
What about the requirements related to Squires Circles (recent note on Counselors)?
- Each Circle must have at least one SEP compliant counselor for every 10 squires, but a minimum of two compliant counselors are required in every Circle.
- All counselors must be fully compliant with the training and background check requirements of the Knights of Columbus Safe Environment Program at all times.
- A non-compliant counselor is one who has failed to complete the Praesidium training and/or failed to provide his consent to a background check within 45 days of initial notice of such requirements.