You play a vital role in keeping your the church a safe place. With Praesidium Academy courses, you'll learn learn about proper boundaries, how offenders operate and how to stop abuse and much more. Click the appropriate button to get started.

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The policy of the Diocese of Fond du Lac is that Child Abuse and Sexual Misconduct by a Church Worker shall not be tolerated. The diocese shall employ procedures to implement this policy that:

• attempt to prevent the occurrence of Child Abuse and Sexual Misconduct in Church Settings
• educate Church Workers to raise awareness of issues surrounding Child Abuse and Sexual Misconduct through materials, workshops and other means; and
• respond appropriately to alleged incidents of Child Abuse and Sexual Misconduct.

Policy and Procedure Manual

Background Check Resources

Prevention Resources

Enroll and Coursework Directions

All church leaders are encouraged to complete coursework to help us be a safer church. Clergy, lay employees, and certain volunteers (especially those who work with children and youth) are required to complete certain courses. ​If additional direction is needed, contact the Diocesan Office at (920) 830-8866.

​Who Takes

​All church leaders who perform a job or duty for the church, whether employee or volunteer, should complete courses. These benefit the individual and the church as a whole, making a “safer” church!

• Those in leadership – for example wardens, vestry members, committee chairs, choir directors.
• Those who work with children – for example youth group volunteers, Sunday School teachers, Vacation Bible School leaders, nursery workers.
• Those who work with children and completed coursework over three years ago – time for a refresher!

What to Take

Courses to complete depend on your role in church work. A course list is below. There are supplemental courses which may be completed to create a safer church. Some congregations or entities may ask you to complete one or more of these courses.

You are welcome to take any course at any time. Each takes about 10-15 minutes to complete. There are interactive questions, audio and video. Not all have to be completed in one sitting. A Certificate of Completion may be printed and filed in the church office.

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Child Abuse
​Prevention Courses

​SET A: All persons who completed child abuse prevention courses over three years ago.

• Abuse Prevention Refresher
• Know Your Policies

SET B: All persons who have not completed child abuse prevention courses in Praesidium Academy.

B1–Volunteers working occasionally with children or youth under supervision (examples: Sunday School teacher, occasional nursery volunteer, adult assisting with youth group).

• Abuse Risk Management for Occasional Volunteers
• Know Your Policies

B2–Volunteers working regularly with children or youth (examples: Sunday School director, regular nursery worker, youth group volunteer, summer camp staff).

• Meet Sam
• It Happened to Me
• Preventing Sexual Activity Between Young Children
• Keeping Your Church Safe
• Social Media Safety
  
• Know Your Policies

B3–Clergy or lay employees.​

• Meet Sam
• It Happened to Me
• Preventing Sexual Activity Between Young Children
• Keeping Your Church Safe
• Social Media Safety
• Know Your Policies
• Duty to Report: Mandated Reporter

SET C: All persons who work with children or youth in a special setting.

C1–Diocesan summer camp staff

• Keeping Your Camp Safe

C2–Day long / multi-day activity (e.g. Vacation Bible School)

• A Day at Day Camp

Adult Misconduct
Prevention Courses

​SET D: All persons in a church leadership position (examples: warden, vestry member.

• Safeguarding God's People: Preventing Sexual Exploitation in Communities of Faith-for Congregations
• Safeguarding God's People: Preventing Sexual Harassment for Workers
• Know Your Policies

SET E: All persons who work with adults in a special setting.
​
E1–All persons who work regularly in a specialized ministry (examples: feeding program, thrift shop).

• Safeguarding God's People: Preventing Sexual Exploitation in Communities of Faith-for Ministries

E2–Clergy and lay employees who supervise other church workers.​

• Safeguarding God's People: Preventing Sexual Harassment for Managers & Supervisors

Supplemental Courses

Additional courses for a safer church. Some congregations or ministries may require completion of some of these.

• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults
• Policies: The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth
• Recognizing Abuse and Exploitation in Elder Serving Programs
• Safe Church, Safe Communities: Abuse & Neglect
• Safe Church, Safe Communities: Bullying
• Safe Church, Safe Communities: Healthy Boundaries
• Safe Church, Safe Communities: Introduction & Theological Background
• Safe Church, Safe Communities: Organizational Rules & Policies