Safe Environment
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Out of concern for the safety and well-being of children, every diocesan parish, school or religious education employee or volunteer who is involved with minors on a regular, recurring basis and those who may have an opportunity to be alone with children during parish, school or religious education sponsored events, are required to complete the following requirements prior to employment or volunteering:
A. Register with VIRTUS (create a VIRTUS account for Diocese of Joliet/St. Isaac Jogues)
B. Read two Diocese of Joliet Policies and electronically acknowledge and date each one
C. Complete a Protecting God’s Children training session
D. Submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check (employees), or a name-based criminal background check in Selection.com/FASTRAX (volunteers)
E. Additional requirements for employees, school board members, coaches, scout leaders, religious education and youth ministry volunteers.
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to complete requirements:Requirements Before Volunteering or Employment
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1. Go to http://www.virtus.org.
2. Click on the green box First-Time Registrant.
3. Click on Begin registration process.
4. Select your organization which is Joliet, IL (Diocese).
5. Then create a User ID and Password for your Virtus Account **. Be sure to list yourself with the proper Role and Secondary Role (if applicable), i.e., Volunteer: Coach.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen which includes reading and acknowledging two Diocesan Policies, and then choose a Protecting God’s Children session to attend and complete.
7. At this point, new employee applicants will stop and contact the hiring manager for instructions to be fingerprinted, and volunteers will be transferred from VIRTUS to selection.com/FASTRAX to complete a name-based background check. Do not enter a social security number-it is not needed.
8. When you have attended the Protecting God’s Children session and your background check is complete, you will be notified.
9. For employees, school board members, coaches, scout leaders, religious education and youth ministry volunteers - you must complete the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Mandated Reporter Training and recertification training every 3 years, (go to https://mr.dcfstraining.org/). Then, submit your Training Certificate, the Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement (DCFS Cants 22 Form), and a Volunteer Application.
10. Employees must also complete Sexual Harassment Prevention Training annually through their Virtus Account.
** If you already have a VIRTUS account in the Diocese of Joliet, sign in and add St. Isaac Jogues in the green box labeled My Info at + Add Role and Location and contact the Safe Environment Coordinator listed below. If you do not know your login information, please contact the Helpdesk at [email protected] or call 1-888-847- 8870 to recover your login information. If you have a Virtus Account in another diocese or archdiocese, contact the Helpdesk to add or transfer your Account to the Diocese of Joliet/St. Isaac Jogues Parish.
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Reporting Incidents of Sexual Abuse:
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Anyone with reason to believe that a child has been abused or is being abused should report their suspicions to civil authorities. Contact: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services: 1-800-25ABUSE (1-800-252-2873) or local police.
The Diocese of Joliet Victim Assistance Coordinator is available to help victims/survivors of child sexual abuse by a cleric, employee or volunteer of the Catholic Church. The Victim Assistance Coordinator will report to Bishop Conlon and coordinate efforts of pastoral support and outreach to assist in the healing process. The Victim Assistance Coordinator can also assist in making a report to civil authorities. Contact the Diocese of Joliet Victim Assistance Coordinator at 1-815-263-6467.
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For more information:
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Visit our diocesan website
Contact our parish Safe Environment Coordinator Jane Walter:
[email protected]
630-655-5918
To read the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” view the United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website here.
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