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
Following a mandate from the Bishop of Dallas, the SEP compliance system was established to monitor the safe environment status of all Knights of Columbus who belong to councils in the area of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.
It is the responsibility of each Council to
- Initially enroll all members in the DDC SEP Compliance System roster by referring to the How to Guide available on the kofcdallas.org Safe Environment Page;
- Refer to the DDC SEP Compliance System reports to ensure that all knights who perform service events (such as pancake brunches, fish fries, fall fests, etc. – essentially all events other than member-only meetings) on diocesan or parish property are safe environment cleared, whether through the Dallas Catholic Diocese or the DDC;
- Monitor, maintain, and update the safe environment records of all knights in the council through the DDC Compliance system; and
- Cooperate with any inquiries or auditing procedures of the DDC and Diocese.
Councils are directed to enforce that only SEP-cleared Knights may participate in service events on diocesan properties.
The responsibilities of each individual Knight are to make sure that
- Your profile information is correct, including the spelling of your name, land address, email address, date of birth, and phone number;
- That IF you are currently enrolled and cleared in the Catholic Diocese of Dallas Safe Environment Program (the Diocesan SEP), such information is accurately reflected in your profile, OR
- If you are not enrolled in the Diocesan SEP, and you participate in any service activities of your council or assembly that involve contact with the public, that you start the process of enrolling in the DDC SEP by authorizing a criminal background check and registering for an upcoming online SEP training session. You will be cleared after you are confirmed as having a clean background, you have been trained and have read and acknowledged the DDC SEP policies. Click here to download the DDC Policies and Acknowledgement form.
If you are already enrolled in the Diocesan SEP, and as long as your parish-granted clearance remains current, no further action will be required on your part to be considered cleared for event participation. You will not be required to enroll in both programs.
**Please note: the K of C Safe Environment / Youth Protection Program administered by Supreme involving the clearance of four officers/directors of each council and with its guidance on executing safe events is completely SEPARATE from this process, and so the clearance obtained through Praesidium does not cover the requirements of the DDC SEP (and vice-versa). The Supreme SEP is still REQUIRED for council service event not held on diocesan or parish property, and in addition to the DDC SEP for any service event on diocesan or parish property.
Each Council’s compliance will be enforced by the DDC and audited by the Catholic Diocese of Dallas Safe Environment Director. Participation and compliance with policies of the DDC SEP are REQUIRED for the continued privilege of using parish and diocesan facilities.
Download the DDC Safe Environment Policy
How to Report Suspected Abuse
If you suspect abuse of a minor (or vulnerable adult) has occurred, including sexual abuse:
-
- If you believe a victim is in imminent danger, call 911.
- Contact Local Law Enforcement such as Police or Sheriff (where the incident occurred) via non-emergency numbers if there is no imminent danger. Outside of non-emergency number business hours, call 911 and inform the operator of the need to report suspected abuse.
- Contact the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services through the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or www.txabusehotline.org
- If the allegation involves a priest, deacon, employee, or volunteer of a parish or the Diocese, in addition to contacting government authorities, please also notify the Victim’s Assistance Coordinator at reportabuse@cathdal.org, 214-379-2812, or via the form at dallascatholic.org/report-abuse/
- If it involves a member of the Knights of Columbus, contact DDC SEP Director Bryan A. Finley at 214-914-4163 and/or bryan.finley@verizon.net. The DDC SEP committee will then contact the Diocese and the K of C Texas State Advocate. The Texas State Advocate will report to the K of C Supreme Office of Youth Protection at 844-563-2723 or oyp@kofc.org
How to Notify of a Knight's Sexual Misconduct
Please inform the DDC SEP Director as soon as possible when you become aware that a member has been:
- Charged with or found guilty by a court of any offense involving children;
- Charged with or found guilty by a court of any sex-related offense; or
- Sued in court for any wrongful conduct against children or for a sex-related offense.
The DDC SEP director will notify the State Advocate/Office of Youth Protection as soon as possible.
To the extent there is a need for suspension or other action, it will be handled by the Board of Directors through the Office of Youth Protection and Membership Records.
KofC Youthe Protection Program
Knights of Columbus > Safe Environment
The Knights of Columbus Youth Protection 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 their 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.
As context, the Dallas Diocese considers the Knights a Non-Parish Based Organization (NPBO). These NPBO’s are required to maintain their own safe environment program records that are subject to audit. The audits request the last Safe Environment training date (to be completed 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. This means that as a Knight, YOU must be cleared according to the applicable Safe Environment Program policy, or you will not be permitted to volunteer.
There are two different scenarios for Knights of Columbus members to receive Safe Environment Program Clearance.
- 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 member must both receive training from the provided live webinars and submit to a background check via the DDC SEP online portal.
All of the following are required of each active Knight to be “Safe Environment Cleared” to participate in Knights-sponsored events involving children and/or vulnerable adults.
- 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 the background checks ($15.00 per submission).
- 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)?
Each council is ultimately responsible for the $15 assessment for each background check on its active members who are not otherwise cleared through the Catholic Diocese of Dallas. However, members can opt to pay the $15 assessment personally in order to assist their council with costs.
The best way to avoid these costs and the extra process is to enroll the Knight in a parish-based ministry, such as an Usher, Lector, or another parish-based ministry role.
How much does running a background check cost?
Each background check costs $15 billed to the member’s council. This cost only applies if the active member is not otherwise cleared by the Catholic Diocese of Dallas.
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. However, since they are not cleared to volunteer, they may ONLY participate in officer meetings, business meetings and committee meetings–no other events.
Keep in mind: the by-laws of the Knights of Columbus still enforce that any member who is convicted of a felony offense during membership shall be expelled, and anyone with a prior offense involving minors or sex-related offenses may not be allowed into the order. If you know of a member who may have been convicted of a felony or sex-related crime, contact DDC SEP Director Bryan A. Finley.
What about requirements related to Squires Circles?
Squires Counselors must be trained and cleared through Praesidium, the Supreme Knights of Columbus Youth Protection Program. In addition, Squires Counselors should be noted as “Active” Knights and must maintain either Diocesan-granted or DDC-granted clearance in order to volunteer as Counselors on parish and diocesan property. All Squires Circles and Counselors should follow all SEP requirements set forth by the Diocese and DDC immediately, continuously, and with the greatest vigilance to protect the Squires and their programs.
Any additional requirements for Squires counselors will be communicated to Chief Counselors directly to ensure these and other Squires-specific compliance questions are answered.