Protection of Children and At-Risk Adults
All of our training modules are found online and accessed through Praesidium Academy. These modules support compliance with the current Episcopal Church policies. In August of 2021 the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany adopted the current policies of the Episcopal Church. The policies can be found below:
The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults
The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth
These training modules were adopted, and the assignments for the roles outlined below were also adopted at this time.
There will be in-person trainings available for each Deanery – you can find the upcoming trainings below:
How to Get Started
Contact your Dean or Abuse Prevention Coordinator, Kait Hyde at the Diocesan Office, for your Deanery’s specific log-in credentials.
You may also reference This Infographic which gives a good start-up plan for your parish.
Check out the image below to see how easy it is to create an account.
Click on your Deanery below to get your registration code. If you are not sure which deanery your parish is a part of, you can find that on our website here.
Metropolitan Deanery (except for Cathedral of All Saints – see below)
Who Needs to be Trained?
The more people who have the training, the safer the space will be. Training not only keeps us informed of best practices that protect ourselves and those you serve, but also trained communities are not attractive to people who may want to harm our communities. When more people understand how things should be happening, it helps with accountability and making sure they are happening.
Check out this Infographic with a detailed explanation of the different roles the Episcopal Church outlines for training.
What Training Do I Need?
- Check out this Infographic that lists each role of a parish and what training they each should have. The trainings need to be completed every 3 years.
- According to New York State law every employer in New York State is required to provide employees with sexual harassment prevention training. This is offered on the Praesidium Academy as well: Promoting a Safe Environment: Employee Sexual Harassment Training – New York State Version. Anyone employed by the Diocese, or your church should also take this training.
- All of these roles outlined should also be familiar with The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Vulnerable Adults and The Episcopal Church Model Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth. You can read these documents or complete the online training offered about them at Praesidium Academy.
Our Diocese is working closely with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church and is working on ways we can formally make these trainings more available and less of a burden. We are in communication on how we can offer this training in person, while still granting participants the needed proof of a praesidium certificate, and also looking at what some of the refresher courses cover and how they can be implemented instead of completely retaking all courses every 3 years.
At this time, all training courses are online, and the courses assigned to each role are expected to be completed every 3 years. We encourage parishes to support members who may not have computer access in completing the necessary training.
Please direct questions to the Diocesan Abuse Prevention Officer, Kait Hyde
or call 518-692-9550 Option 3