Where are policies found?
www.austindiocese.org/eim-policies

How often are the policies updated?
About once every three years. The last policies were promulgated in 2023, and Bishop Garcia is reviewing and preparing an updated version for 2026.

Who works in the EIM Office?
Abby Turner (Director), Tommy Sustaita (Site Auditor), & Orvilia Cienfuegos Arce (Administrative Assistant)

Who is the Victim Assistance Coordinator?
Kathy McCormick ([email protected])

More info on Victim Assistance Coordinator (VAC)
In the Diocese of Austin, the VAC is a spiritual director who has volunteered to coordinate mental and spiritual care of individuals affected by abuse. For some, this looks like providing spiritual guidance. For others, the VAC may work with the EIM Office to identify resources and tools to help in an individual’s healing journey.

The Ethics and Integrity in Ministry Lay Review Board assists the bishop as a confidential, consultative body in:

• addressing and responding to allegations of abuse of minors by clergy and other violations of EIM policies and the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (i.e., allegations of abuse by clergy against minors and previous abuse by clergy against minors who are now adults);
• addressing and responding to allegations of abuse by clergy against the elderly or adults with disabilities; and 
• developing policies and procedures regarding Ethics and Integrity in Ministry, including education and prevention.

Where can the EIM Code of Ethical Conduct be found?
www.austindiocese.org/eim-policies

When do individuals see/agree to the EIM Code of Ethical Conduct?
Individuals agree to the EIM Code of Ethical Conduct every time they attend an EIM training in person or online. It is read aloud together at the end of each training to reinforce the group’s shared commitment to protect.

Where can I find examples of ethical versus unethical conduct?
Policies, Section 3: www.austindiocese.org/eim-policies

What does it mean to be EIM Compliant?

1. You have had 1 initial “live” training within 3 years: After this initial “live” training, you complete an online refresher every three years;
2. You have consented to background checks, which are run every three years after they are initially authorized.

Who monitors EIM Compliance?
Pastors/Principals and the Local Site Administrators that they designate at their respective parish/school.

What training does the Diocese of Austin use for safe environment (EIM) training?
VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children® 4.0 for both the initial training and the refresher training.

How long is training good for?
3 years

Who is required to go through EIM training?
Priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, seminarians, and employees, in addition to most volunteers (see full list of volunteers required to be compliant at www.austindiocese.org/eim-policies under “Who needs to be EIM Compliant”).

How many days does a new individual have to attend training after creating a VIRTUS account?
30 days

Who conducts background checks for the Diocese of Austin EIM Office?
SPIs Investigations

What kind of background check is this?
A criminal background check, which checks:

• National Records
• State Records
• County & City Records
• National Sex Offender Registry
• Texas “No Not Hire Registry.”
• This check does not involve a credit check or minor civil driving offenses.

How long is a background check good for?
3 years. Once the initial check is authorized by an individual through VIRTUS, their background check is automatically run every 3 years, so long as they remain employed and/or in ministry.  

Who is required to undergo background checks?
Priests, deacons, religious brothers and sisters, seminarians, and employees, in addition to most volunteers (see full list of volunteers required to be compliant at www.austindiocese.org/eim-policies under “Who needs to be EIM Compliant”).

Does our diocese use FBI fingerprinting for criminal history checks?
Yes, but only for the following employees paid through Paylocity:

• Catholic School Employees
• Employees who work at parishes tied to a Catholic School

Do minors need to be EIM Compliant to serve in ministry?
No. However, minors MUST be supervised by at least 2 EIM-Compliant Adults while serving in ministry. A 17-year-old, going on 18, may create a VIRTUS account and attend a workshop to ensure they do not have a gap in their ministry. Minors 16 and under should not create a VIRTUS account and may not attend workshops.

How are individuals notified if they need to take refresher training?
VIRTUS sends notices out to individuals 60 days prior to their expiration date. The EIM Office sends emails monthly to non-compliant individuals. Local Site Admins reach out directly to site-affiliated individuals to notify them.

Who should you reach out to if an individual has been affected by abuse and wants to know about alternative training options?
The EIM Office

What should be done if you know that there is a person at the parish/school who is a Registered Sex Offender?
Notify the EIM Office

What is the safe environment education program for children called in our diocese?
VIRTUS Empowering God’s Children®. Empowering God’s Children® (EGC) is a comprehensive program through which educators (teachers, catechists, and youth ministers) and parents provide children and youth with foundational knowledge and tools to understand boundaries and boundary violations, and to help protect themselves if a boundary violation occurs. The material is developmentally appropriate for each grade group (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and high school), with content and activities that reinforce the message of each year’s specific lesson.

Where are Empowering God’s Children's information, instructions, and lesson plans found?
www.austindiocese.org/empowering-gods-children

What grades are taught Empowering God’s Children® each year?
All grades, kindergarten through 12^th grade

How many lessons are there?
There are 6, which rotate (i.e., a 6-year rotating schedule).

Where can examples of appropriate v. inappropriate behavior be found?
www.austindiocese.org/eim-policies

How many EIM-compliant adults are required to monitor any kind of program that involves minors?
At least two EIM-compliant adults

Where can the supervision ratios be found?
www.austindiocese.org/eim-policies 

Where can I find information on reporting abuse, unethical conduct, or policy violations?
www.austindiocese.org/report-abuse and www.austindiocese.org/eim-policies 

How do I report abuse?
If you have information that a person in ministry in this diocese abused a minor, elderly adult, or adult with a disability:

1. First, report the information to local law enforcement (911) or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) online or by calling 1-800-252-5400.
2. Second, after reporting to law enforcement, email the Notice of Concern (click here) to [email protected] or mail it to:

If you prefer to make your report to the diocese by telephone, call (512) 949-2447.

What if the abuser is a Catholic Bishop? 

1. First, report the information to local law enforcement (911) or the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) online or by calling 1-800-252-5400.

2. Second, after reporting to law enforcement, make a report to the Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service. The Catholic Bishop Abuse Reporting Service (CBAR) was established in 2020 to receive reports of sexual abuse and related misconduct by bishops, and to relay those reports to proper church authorities for investigation. Where a report includes a crime, such as the sexual abuse of a minor, it will also be reported to civil authorities. Otherwise, reports will be kept confidential. 
   1. Make a report online.
   2. Make a report by phone: (800) 276-1562.

Who is a mandated reporter in Texas?
In Texas, every adult, age 18 and up, is a mandated reporter of child abuse, elderly abuse, and abuse of adults with disabilities. 

How do I report cyber abuse/online exploitation/online crimes?
The CyberTipline is the place to report child sexual exploitation. Click for the CyberTipline. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is the central hub for reporting cyber-enabled crime against adults. It is run by the FBI, the lead federal agency for investigating crime. Click here for the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

How do I report EIM Policy Violations?
Report EIM Policy Violations/Boundary Violations/or Misconduct to your pastor/principal, and the EIM Office.

• Use the EIM Notice of Concern to document your concern.
• Review the Full EIM Policies for examples of policy violations.

How do I report HR/Workplace Concerns?
Employees should refer to their employee manual for guidance on reporting workplace concerns. HR matters should be referred to the Office of Human Resources for the Diocese of Austin: www.austindiocese.org/human-resources.

How do I report concerns regarding priests (not involving abuse)?
If you have a concern about a priest that does not involve abuse, such as communication issues, pastoral care concerns, or other matters impacting parish life, please reach out directly to Fr. Chris Downey, Vicar for Priests: www.austindiocese.org/vicar-for-priests.

Who should I contact about support or resources for people affected by abuse?
The EIM Office at [email protected]. Some resources are also available at www.austindiocese.org/resources-information.