Technology in Ministry An Addendum to Ethical Standards for Church Personnel Catholic Diocese of Wilmington Frequently Asked Questions August 2011
Technology In Ministry Policies Frequently Asked Questions Why are these policies being published now? While it is true that publishing these policies in the spring for implementation in the fall would have been ideal, the timing simply did not work. The committee wanted to have as much input as possible and also needed to get approval from diocesan administration. The process of writing the policies took many months, leaving us with a fall launch date. The committee appreciates your compliance and your patience. Will these policies change? We are asking all those who see these policies, including diocesan administration, to review these policies and offer feedback before September 30, 2011 via email to fsgc@cdow.org. In the meantime, Church Personnel should begin implementation in parishes and schools. The committee does not expect major changes to the policies when the final document is published. If I missed the first in-service, will there be another? No. The in-service on August 22 nd was a one-time event, which is why we advertised it all spring and summer. More than 700 adult leaders in ministry attended and to repeat it would be cost prohibitive. That being said, the Technology Policy Committee, in cooperation with Sr. Suzanne Donovan, SC, is trying to plan an in-service for clergy and diocesan and parish employees. If the possibility exists for you to attend that in-service, we will let you know. When will the online training be available? The online training launches September 1, 2011 and can be found at www.cdowtraining.org. Who has to complete the online training? Everyone who signs a volunteer covenant or an employee Standards of Conduct agreement will need to complete the online training. This includes catechists, teachers, youth ministry volunteers, principals, DREs, CYMs, scout leaders and coaches. Can I complete the online training if I didn t attend the in-service? Yes. Remember that the in-service s purpose was to talk about the need for a technology policy. Please share what you heard from Katie s presentation with all those in ministry with you. 2011 Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Page 2
What is the deadline for completing the online training? November 1, 2011 is the deadline for the first wave of Church Personnel (those who attended the August 22 nd in-service or those receiving this memo). How will I know who took the online training if I am a parish or school leader? After the online training launches, all leaders in ministry (CYMs, DREs, Principals) will be invited to a webinar to learn how to access the database showing who has completed the online training. You can attend yourself or send a representative. No personal information will be listed in the database but it will include a complete list of those who have completed the training for your parish or school? When I register online for the training, what questions will be asked of me? When you go to the online training (www.cdowtraining.org), you will need to supply your first and last name, a valid email address, and your parish and/or school. We are working on a solution to those who serve more than one school. You will choose your own user name (we suggest your email address) and password (a combination of letters and numbers). After you agree to the terms of service, you will enter the site. What do I need to take the online training? You should download a copy of the policies (a link is provided at the beginning of the training), have a pen or pencil ready, and be using a computer with sound enabled. How long is the training? The training takes about 25-30 minutes. What is involved in the training? The training includes a series of videos and slides that outlines the Technology in Ministry policies. After each part (there are five parts), users will take a quiz. You must pass the quiz before moving on to the next part. You must complete all five parts to complete the training. What happens after I complete the training? After you complete part five of the training you will be directed to download a copy of the Technology Agreement for Church Personnel, sign it and hand it in to a parish or school representative. Who collects the Technology Agreements? It is up to the parishes to collect these agreements and keep them on file. 2011 Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Page 3
How often do I have to sign the Technology Agreement? Agreements must be signed annually but online training is a one time requirement to help Church Personnel understand the policies. Who is in charge of technology at the parish level? It is up to each parish to designate one person to be in charge of technology. This person will need to be most familiar with the Technology in Ministry policies to ensure compliance? Why are we doing this? Why are we making catechists do this? Because we care about the safety and well being of our young people and because we want the parish and school resources used legally and wisely, we are implementing the Technology in Ministry policies. How do these policies fit with For the Sake of God s Children? Think of these policies as an extension of FSGC. The Technology in Ministry is an addendum to the Standards of Conduct for Church Personnel. This is the natural next step in the development of FSGC. Why were clergy and parish staff members not invited to the in-service? Simply put, the Catholic Education Department hosted in the in-service and felt it important that we speak directly to those involved in ministry overseen by our department. Sr. Suzanne Donovan, SC will oversee implementation of the policy for other Church Personnel. What is the time frame for those who did not attend the in-service on August 22 nd to complete the training? For those who are in ministry under the auspices of the Catholic Education Department, the deadline for completion of the online training is November 1, 2011. This includes anyone who works with Catholic Youth Ministry, Catholic Schools, Religious Education, Campus Ministry, Scouts, etc. What about CYM Coaches? All coaches must complete the training by November 1, 2011 if they plan to coach in the winter season. Coaches already coaching for fall 2011 will need to complete the training before they coach for a second season. Spring coaches will not be allowed to coach until the training is complete. What about Scout leaders? Any parish or schools with scout troops that meet on parish/school grounds or are chartered by the parish must inform these troop leaders of the need to be in compliance with the Technology in Ministry policies. The person who keeps track of background checks and volunteer covenants for this group should also track compliance for the Technology in Ministry policies. 2011 Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Page 4
What about the Student Policies? Since the reverse side of Form A covers the use of personally owned technology devices for those in religious education, athletics, or parish youth ministry, the Student Policies are not required for those ministries. The Student AUPs are, however, required reading for teachers in our Catholic schools and should be discussed the first few days of class. Plans must be made to implement the Student AUPs during the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year. What training will be offered for Students? Each school is encouraged to teach Internet safety and to review student policies as outlined. Parish programs (i.e., religious education, youth ministry) are encouraged to teach Internet safety as part of the FSGC curriculum, where applicable. How can I train my staff or volunteers as a group? There are two options. You could, as a leader in ministry, register yourself online for the training. Before starting the training, request a code from CYM (this should be done at least one business day prior to when you plan to offer the group training). Then once you are set up with a computer and projector, take the training as a group with everyone participating together. After the training, all those present will need to log on to the site and choose to take the Group Training Quiz. This option will bypass the videos which they have already seen and allow users to just take a wrap up quiz. The other option would be to offer the training as a group where there is wifi or in a computer lab where everyone is online and the training is discussed as a group, but completed individually. What is my next step as a parish youth ministry/religious education leader, athletic association president or school principal? Your immediate step should be to educate your staff and volunteers about the policies by providing copies and the appropriate links to documents. Encourage those with whom you work to take the online training after September 1 st and to offer feedback if they see glaring omissions in the policies. Discuss any changes your parish or school needs to make to be in compliance with the new policies. Finally, spend some time at a staff meeting or in-service discussing the new policies to ensure everyone is on the same page. Where do I send my complaints or concerns about the policies? Send all feedback before September 30 th via email to fsgc@cdow.org. 2011 Catholic Diocese of Wilmington, Page 5