Safe Environment and Reporting Child Abuse
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VIRTUS Online (Safe Environment)
Thank you for your continued support of our safe environment program. The Pittsburgh Diocese is implementing a compliance recertification training program for all clergy, employees, and volunteers, which began as of September 1, 2020. This re-certification training is a follow-up from Protecting God's Children. Every three years everyone will be required to recertify.
If you receive an email from VIRTUS Online, this is an email from the Diocese indicating that it is time for you to recertify. The Diocese is sending out recertification notices at random order. Everyone will be receiving a notice from the Diocese. When you receive your email from VIRTUS Online, you will have to login to your VIRTUS account to complete the combined Protecting God's Children Maltreatment 3.2 and Vulnerable Adults Training.
A link to the training will be sent to you when you get the email. You will also be sent your User ID to log in to the VIRTUS platform. You will have the ability to recover your password by clicking on "Need login information" under password box. All of this information will be sent to you when it is time for you to renew your certification.
When you complete the training, please send me a copy of your certificate for your safe environment file at St. Oscar Romero. I need to have your certificate in your file as required by the Diocese.
Protecting God’s Children used to be a “one and done”. It is not that way anymore. Volunteers and staff will need to retake PGC every three years from now on due to the new program requirements from the Diocese.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!
Dr. Cindi Fuselier, Safe Environment Coordinator
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Safe Environment for Employees
Parish EmployeesAll parish employees must complete the following steps.
- Click here to complete Safe Environment Requirements through Virtus
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Child Abuse History Clearance
a. Complete Paper Application and Release Form
OR
b. Complete online Application -
FBI Clearance
Parish Employee - Use code 1KG756
Preschool/Child Care Services Employee - Use code 1KG738 -
Protecting God’s Children: On-line Class OR Live Class
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Mandated Reporter Training
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Are you listed on Appendix D?
a. If Yes, see the next step.
b. If No, you are not required to complete the next step.
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Parish Volunteers for Compliance
All parish volunteers must complete the following steps.- Click here to complete Safe Environment Requirements through Virtus
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Child Abuse History Clearance
a. Complete Paper Application and Release Form
OR
b. Complete online Application -
FBI Clearance or Waiver
a. Have you lived in Pennsylvania 10+ years? YES
b. Have you lived in Pennsylvania 10+ years? NO
i. Use code 1KG6ZJ -
Mandated Reporter Training
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Are you listed on Appendix D?
a. If Yes, see the next step.
b. If No, you are not required to complete the next step.
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Reporting Child Abuse
The Reporting Process
- Everyone is a permissive reporter and is encouraged to make a report of suspected child abuse. Reporters of suspected child abuse fall into two categories.
- Mandated reporters are those adults who come into direct contact with children in the course of their employment or volunteer of a regularly scheduled program or activity, who accepts responsibility for a child.
- The trigger to report is a reasonable suspicion that a child is being abused. Permissive reporters may report anonymously; mandated reporters may not.
Making a Report of Child Abuse
- Reports of suspected child abuse are to be made immediately.
- If the child is in imminent danger, call 911
- Reports may be made orally by phone or electronically
- Oral reports are made to ChildLine at 1-800-932-0313 which is available 24/7
- Electronic reports are made via CWIS Self-Service portal at www.compass.state.pa.us/cwis
- Inform the supervisor or person in charge of your program that a report was made
To report church-related abuse to the Diocese of Pittsburgh call:
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