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Please click here to fill out our Volunteer form to get involved with a new ministry or activity!
CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information)
The Blue Hills Collaborative, as part of the Archdiocese of Boston, is fully committed to ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable population to whom we minister. Pursuant to the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Blue Hills Collaborative and the Archdiocese are committed to obtaining all available criminal offender record information for the following: all volunteers who minister to or have the potential for unmonitored access to children, youth, elderly or the disabled on behalf of the Archdiocese of Boston; all paid parish staff; and all Roman Catholic clergy. As such, through the Archdiocese’s Office for Background Screening, we utilize a process by which we conduct background checks through the Criminal History Systems Board (CHSB) of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The process allows the Archdiocese to receive and review Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Reports from the CHSB for the above categories of individuals.
The Catholic Parishes of the Blue Hills issues CORI forms to 100% of its volunteers.
The Archdiocese has established guidelines, adapted from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services, to determine whether these individuals are appropriate for employment and/or volunteer service in the Archdiocese of Boston. The implementation of these guidelines is set forth in this CORI Policy of the Archdiocese of Boston, and the Blue Hills Collaborative follows all guidelines as required by the Archdiocese.
Anyone who wishes to participate as a volunteer or employee of the Blue Hills Collaborative MUST complete annual CORI checks. CORI renewals for the Collaborative take place in January of each year.
Do NOT mail in this form. To complete the process you MUST return this form in person and bring with you a government issued photo ID. For more information, contact the Collaborative offices, 857.342.9500.
When is the Renewal Date?
In the Central Region of Boston, once the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1st) is over, it’s CORI time again. As long-time volunteers know, the Archdiocese requires that all parish volunteers must fill out a CORI form every year. Each region gets a different starting date; ours is January 1. A letter goes out around this time to all known volunteers (age 18 and over) with a blank CORI form and instructions on how to fill it in and how to get it verified. For 2018, the Archdiocese sent us a letter reminding us of who qualifies as a volunteer and especially pointed out that all Communion Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, and adult Choir Members must fill out an annual CORI. The cooperation of these ministers is especially appreciated this year.
If you are a volunteer for one of our parishes and have not received a letter, please stop by the Collaborative Center any morning, Monday through Friday. The whole process takes less than 5 minutes. Thank you to all who help keep our parishes safe so our families can always feel God’s unconditional love for all.
Protecting God's Children
Child sexual abuse is a worldwide public health issue. Child abuse, particularly child sexual abuse, is reprehensible—especially when the wrongdoer is affiliated with the Church. As mandated by the Archdiocese of Boston, all volunteers and employees of the Blue Hills Collaborative receive in-depth training entitled “Protecting God’s Children,” which assists us in becoming a safe haven for children and a messenger for preventing child sexual abuse within the Church and society in general.
Archdiocese of Boston's Child Protection Policy
The Protecting God's Children program implements safety mechanisms that send a message to all abusers and potential abusers:
- Child abuse is not tolerated,
- Children are vigilantly protected,
- Victims are listened to, heard, and shielded from further abuse, and
- Offenders are identified and punished.
By utilizing best practices for training and loss prevention, the Protecting God's Children program helps make our Collaborative safe for all people—especially children.