Virtus
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Click on the button below to view the Disclosure & Authorization Information
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Attention all Volunteers
If you are a volunteer for our parish or school, and in that capacity, you are around any children under 18, you are required to be VIRTUS trained. What does that mean? That means, you are required to take a 3-hour training which will delineate what VIRTUS is all about—Protecting God’s Children. Protecting God's Children® for Adults is training conducted by VIRTUS® 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 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, and victim advocacy. If you fall into one of the categories below, you are required to participate in a training before you can continue to volunteer in our school or parish: Coach Lunch Room Helper Recess Helper Library Walker Classroom Party Volunteer Field Trip Volunteer Race for Education Volunteers Boy/Girl Scout Leaders—affiliated with St. Mary’s Parish Faith Formation Catechist & Aides Youth Ministry Volunteers Youth Choir Sunday Nursery Children’s Liturgy of the Word Volunteers VBS ...anything to do with being around children St. Mary’s Parish is offering a VIRTUS Training Session in the ABC Rooms on Sunday, February 11 from 2:00 PM—5:00 PM. There are many training sessions available throughout the diocese. You can find the list and the sign-up links listed below. https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/reg_list2.cfm?theme=0 https://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/ If you are a volunteer and have been through VIRTUS training, please contact the school office to have your training records updated. This is a necessity. If you have taken VIRTUS through another diocese in the state, please let us know, and we will get those records transferred to the Diocese of Grand Rapids. Also, if you had a name change since taking the class, please let us know, and we will adjust that on the site. There is a lot of information contained in this article. Please do not hesitate to contact the school office with questions. Thank you. Ann Pendery, Safe Environment Coordinator for St. Mary’s School and Parish. |
