The Bishops of the United States have required that every diocese implement a safe environment program. The Diocese of Covington has chosen Protecting God's Children for Adults provided by the National Catholic Risk Retention Group. The program consists of a live training session and monthly on-line updates.

All diocesan employees and volunteers are required to attend a session and read bulletins. Other interested persons are also welcome to attend. See the Latest VIRTUS Training Schedule for Employees and Volunteers or the Messenger for times and places of sessions.

The purpose of the safe environment program is to create just that...a safe environment. To do this, the educational program seeks to raise the level of awareness of as many adults as possible who are involved in the lives of children, including parents and grandparents. The program informs those who care about children what the crucial elements of a safe environment are so we can, as adults, model and teach good/safe behavior to our children. The basic premise is that "it takes all of us" to keep each other safe and healthy.

It is diocesan policy that all employees and volunteers meet the following requirements:

Complete the Volunteer Application form. This form is used for background check processing.

Read the diocesan policy booklet titled Policies and Procedures for Addressing Sexual Misconduct which you can pick up in the Religious Education Office or download from http://www.home.catholicweb.com/covingtondiocese/files/sexual_misconduct_policies_2007.pdf

After reading the booklet, please sign the 2007 Edition Acceptance Form. Be sure to check all three boxes on the form before submitting it.

Register online at www.virtus.org to attend a Protecting God's Children (VIRTUS) training session. If you have difficulty with this procedure, or you do not have access to a computer, please call Jenny Kunst at 525-6909 for assistance.

Following the training session, read the monthly online bulletins. Each bulletin ends with one to three questions to be answered as a reinforcement of the core message of that particular bulletin. You will get an email from system@virtus.org letting you know when a new bulletin is posted. Please be advised that the email does not contain the bulletin, you must go to the VIRTUS web site to view the bulletin.

Please submit all paperwork to the
Mary, Queen of Heaven VIRTUS Assistant Coordinator, Jenny Kunst
1150 Donaldson Road
Erlanger, KY 41018

DO NOT MAIL PAPERWORK TO THE DIOCESE.

If you have attended a live presentation, but you are not receiving your monthly bulletins, please call Anita Geiger at 859-392-1565 or email ageiger@covingtondiocese.org

If you do not have a computer, you may access one from the library, a friend, an employer or where you volunteer. If you do not have computer access, you were given a form to complete at the live presentation. That form went to the parish/institution where you are employed or volunteer. You need to partner with someone there (or someone of your choice) who will either allow you to use their computer or will print out the bulletin reports for you, give them to you to complete, then enter your responses. You need an email address regardless of computer access. You may also contact Jenny Kunst at 859-525-6909 for assistance in this matter.

1. Go to http://www.virtus.org On the left side of the screen, enter your USER ID and Password and then click the Login button. (When you registered to attend the training you set up a user ID and password. If you have forgotten your USER ID, please contact Jenny Kunst at 859-525-6909. Forgotten passwords can be obtained by clicking the link for "Forgotten Passwords" on the VIRTUS website.
   
   
2. Once you are logged in, you will see at the top of the screen four tabs. Click on the one that says "My Training".
   
   
3. This will take you to the training bulletin which you should read. After you correctly answer the question at the end of the article VIRTUS will record that you have completed that training bulletin.
   
   
4. To see all the bulletins which you should have read so far, go to the box on the right side of the screen that says "Training Bulletin Report". It tells how many bulletins are not completed. Below that line it says "click here to see your complete report".
   
   
5. On the next screen, click on (click here for details). The next screen will list the bulletins you have not read. Click on the title and it will bring the bulletin up. Read it, answer the question at the end and then click the BACK button at the top of the screen to go back to the list again.

Keep in mind that the emails you receive are just reminders to go through the process stated above.
The email does not contain the bulletin.