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Virtus Training

VOLUNTEERS

All employees and all volunteers who work with children must attend the Virtus/Protecting God’s Children training program before beginning employment, ministry or service.

Virtus Programs
Protecting God's Children
Becoming Certified

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People requires that each employee and/or volunteer within every parish be trained and screened if they have contact with or minister to children. The program in the Archdiocese of Chicago is called VIRTUS or Protecting God’s Children for Adults.

The VIRTUS – Protecting All God’s Children® program has been adopted by the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago to ensure safe environments for children and youth in all parishes, schools and diocesan programs. For information and registration for the next VIRTUS training session in our area, please visit http://www.virtus.org/.

The workshop educates clergy, staff and volunteers who work with children, about the ways to create safe environments for children. The workshop includes videos and facilitated discussions that focus on the prevention of abuse and the protection of children.

All those who interact and are involved in ministry, both as paid employees and as volunteers working with children in our parish, will be trained to assure a safe, healthy and secure environment for our children. Background screening will be conducted for each individual as a component of application to serve in ministry. Though this program might be viewed as an additional burden and time consuming, it is essential for the welfare and safety of our children.

This training is offered at St. Michael several times each year as well as in many locations in the Archdiocese.

Protecting God’s Children

The Archdiocese of Chicago requires all volunteers to complete the Protecting God’s Children Virtus requirements.  These requirements are:

  • Virtus Training & Background Check Go to virtus.org to register for the first time, complete the background check, and take the Virtus training course. 
  • Archdiocesan Standards of Behavior This document will be part of your Virtus account. You must read and electronically sign off on it. It is to be completed annually for every school year.
  • CANTS 689 form (attached) Complete and return to Susan O’Connell for further processing. This document is to be completed annually for every school year.
  • Mandated Reporter Training the State of Illinois and the Archdiocese of Chicago require that this online training be completed every 3 years. This training can be found under the “training” tab in your Virtus account.
  • CANTS 22 form (attached) This document is to be completed after you complete the Mandated Reporter Training. Complete and return to Susan O’Connell for further processing.
  • Since 2019, Virtus Background Checks, Mandated Reporter Training and Virtus Recertification Training is required every three years for all volunteers. These 3 year rechecks can happen any time during the year. Virtus should send you an email when you need to complete any of these requirements.  You will also receive an email from Susan O’Connell when you need to complete these requirements as well.

All these requirements will need to be completed prior to any volunteering, coaching, or chaperoning can occur.

If you want to have questions or wish to know what you need to complete to be compliant with Virtus in order to volunteer, please contact Susan O’Connell, Virtus Site Administrator for the School & Parish, [email protected].

Important Links

Required Information and Forms
Additional Resources
Contact Information