Safe Environment
The Diocese of Great Falls-Billings is firmly committed to protecting our children, young people, and vulnerable adults. Our Safe Environment Program provides education and screening to ensure that our parishes, schools, and ministries remain safe places for everyone to grow in faith.
Adult Training & Background Checks
Safe Environment training and background screening are mandatory before beginning employment or volunteer service. We use a single online platform called Safe Environment (CMG Connect) for all adult training and background checks. Your profile stays with you—if you move to a different parish within the Diocese, your records follow you.
- All Diocesan, Parish, and Catholic School employees (regardless of their role).
- All Clergy.
- All adults 18+ who serve in volunteer capacity with youth or vulnerable adults. This would include volunteers that regularly bring the Body of Christ to the sick and homebound.
- A vulnerable adult, in contexts often used by the USCCB and related church policies, is an individual 18 or older who is uniquely susceptible to abuse because of physical or mental disabilities, illness, or cognitive impairment that hinders their ability to provide for their own care, protect themselves, or understand/resist offenses.
- Note for Minor Volunteers (Under 18): Volunteers under 18 do not require a background check, but they must always be visually and physically supervised by a Safe Environment-trained adult.
3 Steps to Complete Your Certification
- Access the Portal: Go to the Safe Environment Training Portal to create your account or log in.
- Submit a Background Check: Follow the prompts in the system to submit your background check. ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Please verify with your parish or school which exact location you are submitting your background check for before entering it into the system. (Required every 5 years. The Diocese does not run credit checks.)
- Complete Training & Acknowledge Policies: Complete the current year's online training module. At the end, you will be prompted to digitally sign that you have read and agree to abide by the Diocesan Policy Implementation Plan and the Code of Pastoral Conduct.
You're Done! Once completed, the system will issue a Certificate of Completion. Your local Parish or School Safe Environment Coordinator can automatically verify your status in their dashboard.
Children & Youth Training
Every parish and Catholic school in the Diocese is required to offer a yearly, age-appropriate training session for children enrolled in religious education programs and/or any schools to instruct them on personal safety, boundaries, and online behavior.
Parental Opt-Out & Curriculum Review: Parents have the right to review the program materials beforehand. You can explore the curriculum guidelines for our approved programs below. If a parent chooses not to have their child participate, an Opt-Out Form must be completed certifying that the training was offered and declined.
Mandated Reporting & Immediate Help
Anyone can report suspected abuse or neglect of a child. In Montana, adults with regular access to children who have reason to believe a child has been abused are required by law to report it. All Catholic school employees are automatic mandatory reporters without exception.
Emergency Reporting Contacts
If a child or vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, call 911 right away.
To report suspected child abuse or neglect to the state, contact the Montana DPHHS Child & Family Services Division (CFSD) Hotline 24/7 at: 1-866-820-5437.
To report abuse within the Church or find pastoral resources for victims, please visit our Victim Assistance Page or Reporting Page.
Need Help or Have Questions?
Technical Issues & Policies
System Help & Document Center
Call Passwords Support: 406-604-1850
Core Program Policies:
Child Protection Policy (Master Document)
Code of Pastoral Conduct (PDF)
Policy Implementation Plan (PDF)
Background Check FAQ (PDF)
USCCB Charter for the Protection of Young People
Independent Review Board (IRB):
Guidelines for the Independent Review Board
Current IRB Appointed Members