Welcome to the Safe Church page of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana! Our diocese takes matters of safety seriously, especially keeping our children, youth, and adults safe from all forms of sexual misconduct while they are at church or participating in church activities.
For this reason, we require abuse prevention training for all paid staff as well as anyone else who works with children and youth. All training is provided through Praesidium Academy (formerly Safeguarding Online™), which you can access anytime, from anywhere that you have a high-speed Internet connection.
The transition to Praesidium Academy occurred in July 2021. If this is your first time to visit this page since then, you will notice some changes. However, please note that only our training platform has changed; our diocesan policies and requirements are exactly the same. We are in the process of updating all of the information and links so that you can easily login and complete your training.
All diocesan organizations should be in full compliance with the Safeguarding training and background screening requirements that are outlined in our Safeguarding Policies. To determine which courses you need to take, use the training module guidelines specified in this Training Modules Chart.
All churches, schools, and Camp Hardtner are required to designate a Safe Church Minister (click here for list of Safe Church Ministers). These individuals are trained to help you set up a Safeguarding account and fulfill the training and background screening requirements. Contact your local Safe Church Minister when you have any questions about Safeguarding training or background screening.
Get Started
create account
Click here for the Praesidium Academy Quick Start Guide. You will be asked to enter a registration code. Each organization in our diocese has its own unique code. Click here to find the code for your organization.
enroll
After you enter the registration code and click submit, you will be taken to another page. Fill out the form there and click the link to enroll. Print the page or write down your user login and password for future reference.
Already Have an Account
ENTER USER & PASsword
- Enter your email address.
- Enter your password. If you have forgotten your password, follow the instructions to have your password emailed to you or contact your Safe Church Minister. Please do not create a new account.
- Press Sign In.
CHOOSE TRAINING MODULE
Click on the name of the training module you want to take. If you are not sure which modules you are required to take, click on the Training Modules Chart to find out.
Resources
- Safeguarding Training
- Recognizing & Reporting Abuse & Neglect
- Background Checks & Applying for Positions
- Training Youth Volunteers Under the Age of 18
Recognizing and Reporting Abuse of Children
Reporting Summary
DCFS Child Abuse Reporting Form
Confidential Notice of Concern
FAQ's
Below are answers to some of the most common questions asked about Safeguarding Online. For further help, contact your local Safe Church Minister or the Diocesan Safe Church Staff:
Joy Owensby, Safe Church Coordinator
Holly Windham, Background Screening Coordinator
Is there a cost to be trained?
No.
How do I know if I need to be trained?
Please review this chart: Safeguarding Training Chart
Do I need a background check?
Yes. In addition to this training, a criminal record check and sex offender registry check may be required in any state where the trainee has resided during the prior seven years. A DMV check may also be required. Background checks should be renewed every six years. For more information, contact the Safeguarding Minister at your organization.
Please review this chart: Safeguarding Background Check Chart
How do I report an incident?
Please click here for more information.
If I have not had a background check, do I still need one?
Not right away. Initially, current staff who began working prior to October 31, 2018, will be “grandfathered in” and will not need to have a background check. However, six years following the full implementation of the new Safeguarding policies (i.e., October 31, 2024), these staff members must undergo a background screening and will be required to have one every six years thereafter (or at whatever interval is required for the position they hold).
Safe Church Ministers
Hardtner Camp and Conference Center
Mandy Holden, Daniel Chapman
Episcopal School of Acadiana
Sharlene Dubois
St. James Day School Preschool
Annelise Eaglin
Ascension Episcopal School
Brandt Montgomery, Caitlin Neal-Jones
Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School
Kelly Davis
Grace Episcopal School
Becky Dillard, Susan DeHart
Trinity Episcopal Preschool
Jamie Carnline
Epiphany Day School
Sabrina Beach
St. Mark’s Cathedral School
Robin Jennings
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Abbeville
Madge McLain
St. James Episcopal Church, Alexandria
Rita Klock
St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, Alexandria
Jacob Cutler
Christ Episcopal Church, Bastrop
Andrea Gladney
St. George's Episcopal Church, Bossier St. George's Episcopal Church, Bossier City
Kelly Williams
Calvary Episcopal Church, Bunkie
Debra Bubenzer
Trinity Episcopal Church, Cheneyville
Janet Moriarty
Trinity Episcopal Church, DeRidder
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St. Luke's Chapel, Grambling
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St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Jennings
Phyllis Clark
Church of the Ascension, Lafayette
Brandt Montgomery
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Lafayette
Sabrina Beach
Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Charles
Marjorie Collins
St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Lake St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Lake Charles
Boo Kay
St. Michael & All Angel's, Lake Charles
DeAnna Chamberlain
Grace Episcopal Church, Lake Providence
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Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, Lecompte
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Leonidas Polk Memorial, Leesville
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Christ Episcopal Church, Mansfield
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St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Mer Rouge
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St. John's Episcopal Church, Minden
Gillian Brown
Grace Episcopal Church, Monroe
Angie Ford
Iglesia Episcopal La Esperanza de Familias Unidas, Monroe
Ivania Vallejo
St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Monroe
Rita Jefferson
St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Monroe
Janis Babb
Trinity Episcopal Church, Monroe
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Trinity Episcopal Church, Natchitoches
Caroline Abreu
Church of the Epiphany, New Iberia
Margaret Matthews
Redeemer Church, Oakridge
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Church of the Epiphany, Opelousas
Jessie M. Davis
St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Pineville
Virginia Warner
St. David's Episcopal Church, Rayville
Larry Lashley
Redeemer Church, Ruston
Stephanie Thompson
Holy Cross, Shreveport
Melissa Fowle
St. James Episcopal Church, Shreveport
David Scott
St. Mark's Cathedral, Shreveport
Cynthia Anderson
St. Mathias Episcopal Church, Shreveport
Steve Snow
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Shreveport
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Christ Church, St. Joseph
Sam Corson
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Sulphur
Pete Lund
St. Patrick's Episcopal Church, West Monroe
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St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Winnfield
Frank Fuller
St. Columba's Episcopal Church, Winnsboro
Wink Alison