Est. 1923 - Church located at 24 Jabish Street in Belchertown

Parish Child Advocate

Roberta Lojko is the Child Advocate for St. Francis of Assisi Parish. She can be reached by phone at 413-213-0028.

 

Parish Child Advocate Role and Responsibilities

  • In each parish, the Child Advocate is responsible for ensuring that certain Safe Environment protocols are followed.
  • These protocols are described in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Articles 12 and 13.

Child Advocates:

  • Provide training sessions for relevant employees and volunteers;
  • Oversee the completion of all relevant CORIs;
  • Ensure that Codes of Conduct are signed and filed at parish;
  • Maintain records for annual compliance audit.

Documentation kept by Child Advocates:

  • Create master list of all parish personnel;
  • Identify those who will have contact with children, youth and vulnerable adults;
  • Note dates that relevant individuals
    • Complete CORI form
    • Sign Code of Conduct
    • View video/DVD on reporting abuse

Catechetical Leader Role and Responsibilities

Catechetical Leaders (DREs, CREs, AREs):

Catechetical Leaders ensure that religious education programs follow the Safe Environment protocols described in the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, Article 12.

Catechetical Leaders:

  • Distribute prevention curricula to catechists;
  • Ensure that catechists schedule and teach prevention material;
  • Maintain a master list of all children and youth enrolled in Religious Education;
  • Document attendance;
  • File copies of letters sent to parents about prevention material, invitations to meetings, etc.;
  • File parent requests that child not participate in prevention education;
  • Document prevention resources provided to parents of children who do not participate;
  • Document prevention resources provided to parents of new students.