ATTENTION ALL VOLUNTEERS!

If you are a School or Parish volunteer you should have received an email from VIRTUS letting you know of required annual updates. The new compliance year runs from July 1 through June 30.

The DCFS CANTS 689 Authorization for Background Check form and the Archdiocesan Standards of Behavior must be submitted every year. You can print the CANTS form from your VIRTUS account or pick one up in the School or Rectory office. It should not be emailed to DCFS, instead, returned to either office or emailed to Mary Stokes, Site Administrator at mstokes@stchristina.org.

Every volunteer should check their VIRTUS account periodically - Virtusonline.org. Red squares on the Homepage means something needs to be completed. Click on the red box to complete. Some items need to be renewed every year and some need to be renewed every 3 years. If you cannot access your account or need help with anything contact Site Administrator, Mary Stokes, not VIRTUS.

WHAT ARE THE VIRTUS® PROGRAMS?

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.

Additional information on VIRTUS is available at the Archdiocese of Chicago and VIRTUS Online.

PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN

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 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.

VOLUNTEER COMPLIANCE REQUIREMENTS

All Parish and School volunteers must complete the following Compliance Requirements to be eligible to volunteer in any capacity (Room Parent, Coach, Scout leader, etc.).

NEW VOLUNTEERS:

1. Create an account at virtusonline.org, register for and complete Protecting God’s Children online training.
2. Complete the Background Check and Archdiocesan Standards of Behavior through the registration process.
3. Complete an online Mandated Reporter Training course. Send the completion certificate to mstokes@stchristina.org or hard copy to the school office or Rectory.
4. Complete the Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System form - CANTS 22 and CANTS 689. Email completed forms to mstokes@stchristina.org or send completed forms to the Rectory or school - do not fax or email to the number on the form!

VOLUNTEERS WITH REGISTERED VIRTUS ACCOUNT:

All volunteers are required to complete the Archdiocesan Standards of Behavior form and CANTS 689 form each school year between July 1st - June 30th.

1. Log in to your account. If the account is inactive email mstokes@stchristina.org. Do not contact Virtus.
2. Read and acknowledge the Standards of Behavior document.
3. Complete the CANTS 689 form and email to mstokes@stchristina.org or send hard copy to the school office. Electronic signatures are not accepted.
4. Update all account information, especially email address.
5. Complete any required training modules, expired Background Check, etc. Anything needing attention will be in a red box on the Homepage.

***NOTE - Every three years online training (Keeping the Promise Alive), Criminal Background Check and Mandated Reporter Training is required, along with the CANTS 22 form.