Thank you in advance for your commitment to the policies that promote child protection in the Archdiocese of Baltimore.  With your support we will continue to create and maintain safe environments where our children will thrive.

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Volunteer Training for Adults

As per Archdiocesan policy, all adult parish volunteers, over the age of 18, who are serving in ministry in our St. Agnes Parish community must register online through VIRTUS, the Archdiocesan child protection management system. VIRTUS worked with the Archdiocese of Baltimore to customize training tailored to Archdiocesan policies and to Maryland law.

 

These requirements are broken into two categories - Substantial and Non-Substantial Contact with Children, and all training is completed online. The site linked here will direct you to the ESR website where you will be asked to submit to an online criminal history screening.

https://www.virtusonline.org

 

Volunteers with Non-Substantial Contact with Children

1. Register through the link above

2. Choose your username and password to continue.

3. Provide the requested information as it appears on your driver’s license/government issued ID. Be sure not to click the BACK button, or your registration will be lost.

4. Select the primary location as Agnes, St. (Baltimore) and click Continue to proceed.

5. Your locations will be listed on the screen. If you would like to add other locations where you will be volunteering, you may do so here.

6. Select the role “Volunteer without Substantial Contact with Children” for your role and indicate what MINISTRY you are volunteering with under “Title or Position of Service.” then click Continue to proceed.

7. Answer the required question. Please note that a driving record check is only required for individuals who will be driving others on behalf of their ministry at St. Agnes, then click Continue.

8. On this page, answer the three questions on previous volunteer service and employment.

9. Review the following documents: Code of Conduct and A Statement of Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth. To proceed, confirm by clicking on “I hereby represent that I have downloaded, read, and understand the documents,” and enter your full name and date of completion.

10. Please answer the 10 questions about the documents you just read, then proceed.

11. If you have additional questions about VIRTUS Online training, please contact the VIRTUS Help Desk at 1-888-847-8870. 

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Volunteers WITH Substantial Contact with Children

1. Register using the link above.

2. Choose your username and password to continue.

3. Provide the requested information as it appears on your driver’s license/government issued ID. Be sure not to click the BACK button, or your registration will be lost.

4. Select Agnes, St. (Baltimore) as your primary location where you will volunteer then click Continue to proceed.

5. Your locations will be listed on the screen. If you would like to add other locations where you will be volunteering, you may do so here.

6. Select the role “Volunteer with Substantial Contact with Children” and indicate what MINISTRY you are volunteering with under “Title or Position of Service.”

7. Answer the required question. Please note that a driving record check is only required for individuals who will be driving others on behalf of their ministry at St. Agnes and then click Continue.

8. On this page, answer the three questions on previous volunteer service and employment.

9. Review the Code of Conduct and A Statement of Policy for the Protection of Children and Youth. To proceed, confirm by clicking on “I hereby represent that I have downloaded, read, and understand the documents,” and enter your full name and the date of completion.

10. Please answer the 10 questions about the documents you just read, then proceed.

11. Submit three references by entering all required information. Please note that you MUST provide email and mailing addresses for all references. Save to continue.

12. Select the online session you wish to complete (English or Spanish) and select Complete Registration to continue.

13. Click on Complete ESR Background Check to be directed to the secure website. Please complete the steps within the background check process. You will need your SSN as well as current and prior residential addresses for the past 7 years. Once you submit your consent form in ESR, you will proceed to enter your information for the background screening. When you have completed and submitted, close the screen, and go back to VIRTUS.

14. Click on the green circle to complete the online video training: Protecting God’s Children 3.2 Baltimore. If you have any additional questions about the VIRTUS online training, please contact the VIRTUS HELP DESK at 1-888-847-8870.

15. If you have questions regarding your background check submissions, please contact the Archdiocesan Office of Child and Youth Protection at 410-547-5348 Any other questions about volunteering and approval status, please contact Teresa Shaffrey Virtus Screening Coordinator – tshaffrey@shgschool.org Thank you for being a valued volunteer at Sacred Heart!

 

If you have questions about registration process, you may call the parish office to speak with the Screening Coordinator.  Also, feel free to contact the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Office of Child and Youth Protection at (410) 547-5348.