Background screening is one component of the Diocese’s Safe Environment Program and helps ensure that those entrusted with ministry and service meet the standards necessary to work with children, youth, and vulnerable adults. The Diocese of Saint Petersburg is a participant in the Applicant Fingerprinting Retention Notification Program (AFRNP).

Before You Begin

Anyone seeking employment, contractor access, volunteer service, or ministry involvement that includes responsibility for or unsupervised access to children, youth, or vulnerable adults must first obtain the appropriate application or agreement (e.g., Employee Application, an Independent Contractor Agreement, License Agreement, or a Memorandum of Understanding) through their parish, school, or early childhood center where they wish to work or volunteer. Or contact the diocesan Safe Environment Program Office for more information.

Once approved to begin the process, applicants must register online and schedule an electronic fingerprinting appointment and complete the fingerprinting at the appointment.

Register for Screening

For those individuals who do not have access to a computer please register by phone, call the Registration Help Desk 1-954-372-3677 to schedule your appointment.

Important Notes

In accordance with the Title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 50.12, the Diocese of Saint Petersburg does not accept background screening reports performed by any other organization (federal, state, or private vendor).

Fingerprints contained in the FBI database can be used only for the purpose intended and are federal or state statute specific. This means that the FDLE and the FBI prohibits the sharing of criminal history reports between entities outside of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg.

Successful completion of a background check by the Diocese means that screened individuals meet the Diocese of Saint Petersburg’s Minimum Standard of Moral Conduct. 

Instructions for Employees

Who Must Complete Screening?

All diocesan, parish, school, and early childhood center employees age 14 and older are required to complete a Level 2 FDLE/FBI background screening.

Steps

  1. Complete the required employment application.
  2. Register online through the diocesan fingerprinting system.
  3. Schedule and attend your fingerprinting appointment.
  4. Complete the Safe Environment Program training.
  5. Review and acknowledge the Code of Conduct.
  6. Receive clearance before beginning work.
  7. Renew screening and training as required.

Employee Registration Fee

$58.58: Employees are responsible for the screening fee at the time of registration.

Instructions for Volunteers

Who Must Complete Screening?

All volunteers who supervise or have access to children, youth, or vulnerable adults are required to complete a Level 2 FDLE/FBI background screening.

Steps

  1. Contact your parish, school, or ministry leader.
  2. Register online through the diocesan fingerprinting system.
  3. Schedule and attend your fingerprinting appointment.
  4. Complete the Safe Environment Program training.
  5. Review and acknowledge the Code of Conduct.
  6. Receive clearance before beginning volunteer service.
  7. Renew screening and training as required.

Volunteer Registration Fee

$51.00: Parish and school volunteers are responsible for the screening fee at the time of registration.

Instructions for Clergy and Religious

Who Must Complete Screening?

All clergy and members of religious communities must complete a background check and fingerprinting. This includes all international visiting and temporarily assigned parish priests. Additionally, a Letter of Suitability and Safe Environment Compliance from home diocese is required for all temporarily assigned and visiting priests.

Steps

  1. Submit Letter of Suitability (if required).
  2. Register online through the diocesan fingerprinting system.
  3. Schedule and attend your fingerprinting appointment.
  4. Complete the Safe Environment Program training.
  5. Review and acknowledge the Code of Conduct.
  6. Receive clearance before beginning ministry.
  7. Renew screening and training as required.

Instructions for Contractors, Vendors, Consultants & Licensees

For background screening purposes, the Diocese includes contractors, vendors, consultants, licensees, independent contractors, and Memorandum of Understanding personnel within the contractor category. All contractor employers who have employees that provide products and or services to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg AND whose employees have or may have unsupervised access to children or youth must successfully complete a FDLE/FBI (AFRNP) Level 2 background check.

Type 1 Contractors

Contractors or contractor employees who have or may have unsupervised access (care, responsibility, and or supervision) to children, youth, or vulnerable adults.

Requirements

  • Successfully complete Level 2 FDLE/FBI fingerprint-based background check
  • Complete Safe Environment Program training
  • Meet the requirements of the diocesan Contractor-Vendor Registration and Certification Procedures to become a certified contractor with the diocese

Steps

  1. Employer registers with the Safe Environment Program Office.
  2. Employee registers online through the diocesan fingerprinting system.
    • When asked to enter “Applicant Type” select contractor/vendor
    • For “Job Location”, select “Pastoral Center”
    • Enter the firm’s contractor/vendor number
      • If unknown, contact your employer. Your employer may have to contact the Safe Environment Program Office 727-343-1611, ext 5377 to obtain one
  3. Employee schedules and completes fingerprinting.
  4. Employee completes required training.
  5. Diocese issues clearance or non-clearance determination.
  6. Renew screening and training as required.

Contractor/Vendor Registration Fee

$89.00: Contractors/vendors are responsible for the screening fee at the time of registration.

Type 2 Contractors

Contractors providing short-term services such as lawn maintenance, vending machine stocking, HVAC repair, delivery services, or similar work, where they have short-term access to children, youth, or vulnerable adults.

Requirements

Employees who are not background screened must remain under escort at all times while on diocesan property. This provision may not be used as a work-around or act as a loop hole to avoid background screening requirements.

Clearance/Non-Clearance Determinations

Contractors

For all cleared contractor employees, the Safe Environment Program Office will provide the employee’s employer representative with a FDLE/FBI (AFRNP) Level 2 clearance or non-clearance letter for each employee screened. The letter will state that the screened employee can or cannot have access to diocesan property to provide products or services to the contracted parish, school, or other diocesan entity on behalf of his/her employer. This clearance letter will provide the 5-year expiration date of the individual contractor employee’s background check and will act as proof of successful completion of a FDLE/FBI Level 2 background check to any diocesan entity. 

In those instances where a contractor employee does not successfully complete a FDLE/FBI (AFRNP)Level 2 background check because he/she does not meet the Diocese of Saint Petersburg Minimum Standards of Moral Conduct, the diocese will issue a non-clearance letter to the respective employer. The non-clearance letter will state that the firm’s employee cannot have access to diocesan property to provide products or services on behalf of his/her employer.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI prohibits the Diocese from divulging details of a contractor’s employee background check to his/her employer. However, the individual contractor employee is entitled to a personal copy of the report upon which the Diocese made its decision. This request must be in writing and addressed to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, Safe Environment Program Manager, 6363 9th Ave., North, St. Petersburg, FL33710. The contractor employee is free to share the results of his/her background check with his/her employer if he/she wishes to do so.  (Note: Contractors do not have access to the diocesan appeal process.)

Employees and Volunteers

If the criminal history is successfully completed the individual is allowed to volunteer or become employed.

In those instances where an employee or volunteer does not successfully complete a FDLE/FBI (AFRNP)Level 2 background check because the criminal history returns one of the 70 disqualifications listed in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg Minimum Standards of Moral Conduct, the employee/volunteer may choose to appeal the decision (with the pastor/principal’s approval). The appeal is reviewed by the Tribunal and the panel renders a recommendation.