Safe Environment Program

Our Commitment to Youth Safety

At the Knights of Columbus, we believe children are a precious gift, which is why their safety and well-being remain the absolute priority across all our programs and activities. To uphold this commitment, we have partnered with Praesidium, a global leader in abuse prevention with over 20 years of experience in safeguarding against sexual predators. This collaboration allows us to maintain the highest possible standards of protection for young people while continuing our long-standing tradition of service to families.

Safe Environment Program: Under Faith in Action, certain state and council officers/chairmen are required to take safe environment training and may also be required to provide authorization for a background check. Some positions also have access to Praesidium’s ARMATUS Administration dashboard to view member compliance within their council or jurisdiction. 

To maintain our commitment to safety, all appointed program directors and chairs must complete the required safe environment training and background check authorizations. When submitting the Service Program Personnel Report (#365), please verify that all member email addresses are accurate, as these are used for official compliance notifications.

Our partner, Praesidium, sends unique, time-sensitive login credentials and authorization links directly to these email addresses. Because these links are personalized, they cannot be shared or forwarded. We ask all directors and chairs to monitor their inbox and spam folders for these instructions and to complete the process within 30 days of receipt. Please note that the Knights of Columbus covers all costs associated with these requirements; however, failure to remain compliant within the 30-day window may result in removal from your position.

NOTE:  The council Family Director and Community Director must authorize background check. Estimated time to complete: 1.5–2.5 hours per director.

Roles     Training       Background Check Officers Online - Reports

Grand Knight X X

Program Director X

Family Director X X

Faith Director X

Community Director X X

Why this matters:  Without compliance, councils risk the following:

* Liability concerns     * Loss of award eligibility     * Diocesan-level intervention

Contact Information:

Hotline (US/Canada): 1-844-KOFC-SAFE (1-844-563-2723).

Official Website: KofC Safe Environment Program.

Training Portal: Safe Environment Training Site.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Knights of Columbus Safe Environment Program, You may also call customer service toll free at (800) 380-9995 and ask for the Safe Environment Program Member Helpline.

Help Line

Office of Youth Protection – Yusimil Perez (member helpline)  (203) 800-4940  YouthLeader@kofc.org

Send certificates to:

• Rick Guzman –     • Hector Chapa – hchapa12@gmail.com