URGENT NOTICES, UPDATES, MANUAL CHANGES, AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION - ARCHIVE

8 DECEMBER 2010

Postage
Please make sure that you check the postage on the packets you send to us.  We have been receiving a number of CORI packets every week that have postage due, which is difficult for us to absorb over the course of a year (it really does add up)!  Your attention to this is greatly appreciated.

CORI Packet News – URGENT!!

• There was an inadvertent mistake in the binders which were distributed to the parishes and schools.  The CORI form for priests and deacons was included, but should not have been.  All priests and deacons complete their CORI forms through Msgr. Perry’s office only.  Please remove that form from the binder and if a pastor or deacon asks to be CORI’d through you, please refer him to Msgr. Perry’s office.  
  
  
• Every CORI packet is being reviewed by Debora Jones before being forwarded to the CORI office for processing.  This way, if there are any mistakes that have to be corrected by the site, they can be returned quickly.  To date, there are some common mistakes that keep happening, so please review your paperwork before sending in the packets, to ensure the fastest processing possible.  Items to watch for are as follows:  NO pencil on the CORI forms!  They must be completed and signed in ink.  If not, they have to be returned to you. Please also make sure that you are using the correct color form, and that the forms are filled out completely and correctly.  Some CORI forms have a number in the driver’s license area that is a social security number or other number that is not the DL number.  Many do not have verification of ID, which is required under MA law to be done by the person copying the photo ID.  Many forms are missing the name of the site or the city/town.  We fill in what we can, but when we are inundated with forms, it slows everything down.  With regard to the sign-in sheets, we frequently get old forms that are no longer accepted, or we get the new ones with training dates missing, name of the trainer missing, or the trainer initials missing, which is required to verify attendance and as an audit protection.  Reviewing your paperwork for accuracy and completion before sending it to us helps everyone.
  
  
• New volunteer CORI form color for 2011.  The much-anticipated color for the volunteer CORI form is lavender or lilac, whatever you have access to.  Please remember that you must use blue through December 31, and must postmark all blue forms to CSS by January 7, 2011, or they will have to be redone on lavender.  As of January 1, 2011, lavender or lilac is the color that must be used for all volunteer CORI forms.  All other forms remain the same colors, as usual.
  
  
• New CORI forms!  The Commonwealth has issued new CORI forms and we are now in the process of distributing masters to the parishes and schools.  A simplified Code of Conduct has also been completed.  The deanery meetings are the first place of distribution for parishes and the December principal’s meeting is where the schools will receive their packets.  Those of you who cannot make it to those meetings should contact Debora Jones at the OCP at (508) 674-4681 or djones@cssdioc.org to get your packet.  Also included in the packet will be the new abuse prevention training DVD and training guide.  Trainings on how to use them will be offered early next year, but the packets will have complete instructions included.

New Abuse Prevention DVDs are in!
The new DVDs are here, along with a new training guide.  Sites are asked to use the new training format during the slower months so that any necessary fine-tuning can be done before the next busy season of CORI forms and training.  The packets are being distributed as stated above, or you can contact Debora Jones at the OCP to make arrangements to get your materials.  We are distributing one packet per site. 

Website Changes
Please check the website again in January, as after the first of the year, the website will be changed and reorganized to be more user-friendly.  Now that everyone has the training binders, there is no need to have so much information on the website, so it will be streamlined to help you access just what you need.  We will also be posting the CORI forms online and adding some new features to uplift and inspire you.  Stay tuned . . . 2011 is going to be our best year yet! 

Thank you!

Thank you to all of you for a wonderful year.  Those of you doing this work are wonderful colleagues and your hard work is appreciated more than words can say.  Prayers are being said for a safe and blessed holiday season for all and for increased blessings in the New Year.  Peace to all!

NOVEMBER 2010

Green Book Correction!!

To all who have copies of our new Abuse Prevention Policy & Procedure Book, revised July 2010, please take note of a typo in the book.  On page 9, in Section E, General Procedures, item #1, the next to the last sentence of the first paragraph reads, “volunteer or employee is to be suspended without pay (if applicable) . . . “  The correct wording is “volunteer or employee is to be suspended with pay (if applicable) . . . “  Please make a note of that correction.  Thank you!

Teacher/Parent Training Sessions on November 15 and 22!

For all Faith Formation teachers, and any interested parents, CSS will be holding a training session in Mansfield on Monday, November 15 and Monday, November 22.  Both nights, the sessions will be from 7:00 p.m. until approximately 9:00 p.m.  The sessions are graciously being hosted by St. Mary’s Parish, Mansfield, at the following address:

St. Mary’s Parish Center Hall
(behind the church)
330 Pratt Street (Rt. 106)
Mansfield, MA  02048

The sessions are to give Faith Formation teachers a foundation for teaching the Child Maltreatment Prevention Prog