Safe Environment

Virtus Training

The material immediately below applies to all volunteers who have not completed VIRTUS training. If you have completed VIRTUS training, please scroll down to the updated instructions.

VIRTUS

VIRTUS is a child abuse awareness and prevention program for all adults who work or volunteer in our schools, parishes and programs. Adults learn to recognize early warning signs in offenders of child sexual abuse to keep children safe from harm. This training meets the highest standards required by the U.S.C.C.B.Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People and is necessary to work or volunteer in any capacity within the Diocese of Bridgeport. Parents and grandparents are strongly encouraged to attend even if you do not plan to volunteer.

Classes are given from time to time at Saint Philip, but none are scheduled as of now. They will be listed when available, but there is no need to wait. . There are classes in the area that are listed on the Virtus web site.

Please register in advance by going to the website www.virtusonline.org. Select the Word Registration and Select Bridgeport Diocese as your organization. Proceed through the menu creating a user account and sign-up for a class, either one of those mentioned zbove, or one at another location. If you do not have internet access, please call Erin Neil (203) 416-1406. If you have problems registering while you are online you can contact the help-desk at 1-888-847-8870. Pre-registration is required so that we can reduce the registration time at the door and so that you are notified in the event of a change or cancellation.

Attend the live VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children for Adults class (Approximately 3 hours) for which you are registered. At that session

You will also need to:

Complete a written authorization for a criminal background check. Additional information about background checks may be found at the Diocese of Bridgeport Safe Environments.

Read the Diocese of Bridgeport Safe Environments 2020 Handbook and acknowledge acceptance of it.

If you take your class other than at St Philip, please return copies of your training certificate, background check authorization and signed acknowledgement of policy receipts to the Parish Office for our records.