Safe Environment Requirements for Volunteers
Protection of Children and Youth
All volunteers at schools within the Archdiocese are required to participate in all aspects of the Safe Environment Program, including Virtus Training and a criminal background check. During this school year, it is our goal to ensure that everyone has completed all aspects of this program. Anyone working with our parish's children (e.g. chaperoning a field trip, coaching, assisting with the choir) will have to be in full compliance with the requirements detailed at the end of this page. Registration for the Virtus training session and completing the criminal background check may be done online.
Virtus Training
To register for one of the Virtus training sessions, click here. Click on "Registration" in the green box on the left side. Select Chicago Archdiocese. Create a username and password and keep a record of it. Fill out the registration form and select a three-hour Protecting God's Children for Adults session at a time and location that fits your schedule. Following the training, it is required that you continue your personal training at the Virtus website by reading periodic online training bulletins and selecting an answer to a short question listed at the end of the article. You will be notified of the availability of new training bulletins via e-mail, and you can access your personal training site through the Virtus website.
Criminal Background Check
To complete the background check, click here. At the screen that appears, click on the link that states "click here to register". On the screen that appears, click on the button marked "Open the Site Search" and type in "Holy Redeemer". Then select Holy Redeemer School. The access code for individuals new to the system is "protection". You will be prompted later to create your own user ID and password. Fill out the application completely. You may save the application at any time during the process and complete it later. Be sure to keep a record of your user ID and password..
Without our volunteers, we would be unable to provide many of the opportunities our children enjoy. Thank you for participation in this program so that we can continue to provide a wealth of experiences for the children of Most Holy Redeemer School.
ARCHDIOCESAN SAFE ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM
Archdiocese of Chicago Application for Employment or Volunteer Service (to be completed during training session)
- All prospective volunteers are to complete For 7703 before beginning their service to the school.
Criminal Background Screening (to be completed anywhere there is access to the internet)
- All volunteers are required to complete the eAPPSDB form, online.
Safe Environment Training (to be completed during training sessions)
- All volunteers who work with children must attend the Virtus/Protecting God’s Children training program.
- The Certificate of Attendance received at the Virtus training is to be kept in the volunteer’s file at the place of ministry.
Code of Conduct (to be completed during training session)
- All volunteers who work with children must read, sign and date the Code of Conduct Personnel Acknowledgement Form.
- The signed Code of Conduct Personnel Acknowledgement Form is to be kept in the volunteer’s file at the place of ministry.
Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System (CANTS) (to be completed during training session).
- All volunteers who work with children must complete the Illinois Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System paper form (CANTS). The form is to be given to the local administrator.
- One copy is mailed, by the local school administrator, to the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), Springfield; a copy is retained in the volunteer’s file at the place of ministry.
If you have completed training, but have not filled out and/or turned in the CANTS and Code of Conduct forms, they can be downloaded here. Completed forms may be turned in to either the school or rectory office.