Saint Simon

 

If you have additional questions, please contact Peggy Sullivan at 826-6000 ext 162 or e-mail psullivan@saintsimon.org

Background Check Form

Virtus Training Dates

 

 

 

 

 

VIRTUS Training

What is the VIRTUS ? 

The VIRTUS training, "Protecting God's Children" program is designed to increase one's knowledge and awareness of child sexual abuse and how one can help prevent the sexual abuse of minors and to implement the proper response when abuse may be indicated.

The primary goal of the VIRTUS program is to educate all volunteers in the recognition and prevention of sexual abuse.

Who is required to sign up for this program?

Teachers, staff, and all volunteers who minister to or work with minor children must attend one of the VIRTUS training program sessions and are required to read a number of bulletins online per year at VIRTUS online.

The Archdiocese considers the following list of volunteers as those that have contact with children:  Athletic directors, babysitters, cafeteria workers, catechists, clerical/office workers, chaperones, coaches, custodians, extended care workers, scout leaders, tutors, youth ministry program leaders...just to name a few.

VIRTUS Procedural Requirements

The following steps are required:  Live Training Session - The first step is to attend a live training session, which is offered at various parishes/schools throughout the Indianapolis Archdiocese.  Go to VIRTUS online to register.  Once you are on the website, click on the link for "Registration" which is located on the left-hand side of their web page, then follow the directions to find a location.

Ongoing Personal Training/Required Readings - After the live training session is completed, ongoing training is provided through the VIRTUS online website.  You will be required to read a number of bulletins online per year. 

Guidelines are the following:

  • Clergy, deacons, and all paid professional staff to complete at least 12 of the "Protecting God's Children" bulletins online per year.
     
  • Facilitators of "Protecting God's Children" are required to complete all of the facilitators' online bulletins in addition to the requirement above per year.
     
  • All non-professional staff (chaperones, teacher's aides, maintenance workers, bus drivers—unless paid) are required to complete at least six (6) "Protecting God's Children" bulletins each year online or by other means monitored by their supervisors.
     
  • Volunteer catechists are required to complete at least eight (8) "Protecting God's Children" bulletins each year.
     
  • All other volunteers (coaches, scouts, etc.) are required to complete at least two (2) "Protecting God's Children" bulletins per year selected and distributed by the supervisor of the volunteers.

    Background Check - The second step is to complete a Background Check Form administered by the Archdiocese of Indianapolis.  You can link to this Background Check Form here on our website, print it off and fill it out.    This form is a universal form for volunteers and employees.  Volunteers will not have a credit check done; however, social security numbers are required!  Special care is taken to protect your privacy. 

    Please return the background check to Peggy Sullivan in the Business Office, with a $15.00 check payable to St. Simon.