Training

Protecting God’s Children for Adults™/Virtus Training

Protecting God's Children for Adults is training conducted by certified facilitators on the prevention of child sexual abuse. The training makes participants aware of the signs of child sexual abuse, the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse, and five easy steps one can use to prevent child sexual abuse. Two videos are the centerpiece of the training: A Time to Protect God's Children™ and A Plan to Protect God's Children™. The facilitators incorporate Archdiocesan policies and procedures into the training defining child sexual abuse, addressing the reporting of child sexual abuse, the screening and selection of employees and volunteers.  “The Virtus training program implements safety mechanisms that send a message to all abusers and potential abusers: Child Abuse is not tolerated. Children are vigilantly protected. Victims are listened to, heard, and shielded from further abuse. And offenders are identified and punished.” – Virtus Website

All employees and all volunteers who work with children and young people must fulfill this compliance requirement. [Book II The People of God, Part I, Policy 603.3]  Anyone employed two months or longer who has not attended Protecting God’s Children cannot continue to work or volunteer in the Archdiocese of Chicago.

Participants must be present for the entire training session to receive credit for attendance.

All Archdiocese employees and all volunteers who work with children create and maintain an online account with Virtus when they register online to take the training. After attending Protecting God’s Children for Adults training (must attend within 60 days of being hired) submit the certificate of attendance to the location you work/volunteer at, and continue the monthly ongoing education through online training bulletins posted to their online account.

  • If you have never taken training: Click here to find and preregister for an upcoming training session and create a new account.
  • If you have already taken training for the Archdiocese of Chicago: Log in to your account at www.virtusonline.org and make sure it is approved, activated, and updated with your current location, role/title, and personal information.
  • If you have taken this training in another diocese: Contact the diocese you took the training in and confirm that you have established an approved and active account with them. Then contact Virtus at 888-847-8870 to have your account transferred to the Archdiocese of Chicago and updated with your current location, role/title, and personal information.
  • If you have already created an account, preregistered for a training session, did not make that session, and need to transfer your account to a different training session: Click here to view upcoming sessions, and be sure to use your existing account to transfer to another session. If you are unable to transfer your account to another session email the date and location you would like to attend training along with your Virtus user id to cperz@archchicago.org.
  • If you have already attended a training session but never created a Virtus account online go to www.virtusonline.org and create a new account. Be sure to choose the training session you attended from the drop-down box when asked. When completed, contact us to have your account approved/activated at 312.534.5206 or at cperz@archchicago.org.

Mandated Reporter Training

In keeping with archdiocesan policy [Book II The People of God, Part I, Policy 603.6], the Office for the Protection of Children & Youth continues to offer Mandated Reporter training to all Archdiocesan employees and volunteers who are mandated by state law and archdiocesan policy to report suspected child abuse and neglect.  This training provides adults with the knowledge of how to recognize and report child abuse and neglect. State law recognizes the following groups as Mandated Reporters: school personnel, medical personnel, social service and mental health personnel, law enforcement personnel, coroner/medical examiner personnel, child care personnel, and clergy. Further, in keeping with archdiocesan policies, catechists, youth ministers, coaches, and pastoral center employees who work directly with children are also to attend this training. Seminarians must complete this while at the seminary. The training is offered to deacons during their formation. All clergy must attend Mandated Reporter Training. Training must be completed within 60 days of hire. This training is available in two forms: live and online.

  • Live Training: Available in English, Spanish, and Polish. To properly accommodate participants and to ensure all proper credit is given, registration must be received at least 5 days prior to the scheduled training. Seating is limited. Sessions will begin on time and late arrivals will not be admitted. Due to the subject matter, no minors under the age of 18 will be permitted to attend. To register please contact Regina Robinson at 312-534-5254 or email rrobinson@archchicago.org.
    English Training
    Spanish Training
  • Online Training: The Office for the Protection of Children and Youth has partnered with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to use their existing online training: Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Training for Mandated Reporters.  At this time, this online training is only available in English. Persons planning to take the online training need to be prepared for the following: To spend at least 60 minutes to complete the training (you cannot exit and return). The computer used for the training must be connected to a printer that will print the certificate at the completion of the training. Only computer generated certificate will be accepted by locations. The computer used for training must be equipped with speakers or headsets to allow you to hear the audio. Employees must have their employee ID number, which can be found on a paycheck stub. Click here to access online training.

 

Site Administrator Training

A Site Administrator is an on-site employee designated by the pastor or principal at their parish or school, respectively, whose qualifications and duties include but are not limited to the management of compliance data for their site’s employees and volunteers.  Each parish and school needs a Site Administrator.

A Site Administrator plays an important role by insuring compliance in their location and assuring parents and caregivers that their children and young people will be in a safe environment. The Site Administrator has specific expectations and responsibilities to make certain that each adult that is employed or volunteers at their location have complied with the requirements for working with children and young people.  These expectations and responsibilities include but are not limited to: maintaining and updating the online database for Criminal Background Screening and Protecting God’s Children for Adults Virtus training, collecting CANTS & Code of Conduct forms, filing Virtus and Mandated Reporter certificates, submitting CANTS forms to DCFS, keeping the pastor/principal informed, and paying invoices for Fingerprinting and the eApps system.

Site Administrator Position Description
Site Administrator Trainings

Virtus Facilitator Training

Each parish and/or school should have a trained, certified Virtus Facilitator to provide the Protecting God’s Children for Adults training for their site. Applications to attend facilitator training are available through the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth. Facilitator training is a two day process. Facilitators are trained by the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth staff.

Upcoming Facilitator Training