VIRTUS

Ensuring a Safe Environment for Children and Youth

In accordance with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, all parish employees and volunteers who work with or minister to children are required to complete training and screening through the VIRTUS program.

The VIRTUS program was created by the Catholic Council of Bishops to help ensure safe environments for children and youth across all parishes, schools, and diocesan programs. It provides essential education for clergy, staff, and volunteers on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to potential abuse.

Participation in the program includes the following steps:

• Attending a Protecting God’s Children training session

• Completing an online background check

• Submitting a CANTS (Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System) form

• Signing a Code of Conduct agreement

In addition, all employees and coaches are required to complete a Mandated Reporter training course.

These steps are part of our shared commitment to keeping all children safe in our faith community.

 

  

How do I become Virtus Certified?

Following COVID, all past volunteer/coach accounts had to be inactivated in the system for our compliance report to be approved. If you have volunteered/coached in the past and know you were in compliance previously, SKIP Step 1 below. Continue you on to Steps 2-6. When you have completed all the forms, submit them to Debbie Collins in the main office and she will activate your account. DO NOT create a new account if you have volunteered/coached in the past. 

If you have never volunteered/coached and want to start, complete Steps 1-6 below.

Any parent wishing to chaperone, volunteer in a classroom, help with Club Cajetan or help with Fun Lunch MUST complete all six steps to participate. 

1. Complete on-line background check.  Click here to start the background check process.  New users are required to register first. You will need an access code which is "protection".  If you think you already created an account in the past, please notify Debbie Collins at dcollins@cajetan.org and let her know you would like to coach/volunteer and need to be reactivated. If you are unsure if you have an existing account, do not create another account without checking with Debbie first.  
2. Complete two CANTS forms each year and submit to the school office.  Click the link to download each form: CANTS 22/22A and CANTS 689
3. Complete a Code of Conduct form and submit to the school office.  Click here to download the form. This form needs to be filled out every five years. 
4. Attend Protecting God's Children training within 30 days of completing the background check.  Click here to start registration process. All the class options can be found on www.virtusonline.org. 
5. Submit the VIRTUS training completion certificate to the school office.  If you previously attended VIRTUS training, please submit a copy of your certificate to the school office.
6. Complete Mandated Reporter Training – This class can be done on-line.  Take the class, print the certificate and turn it into the office. Click here for more information regarding on-line class availability.

Any parent wishing to be a chaperone, coach, volunteer in the classroom, lunch room or after school programs MUST complete the first five steps to participate.  

 

This training is offered at several locations and on many dates.  Please visit the archdiocese website for a schedule of available training sessions:  Virtus Training Sessions