Training
Mandated Reporter Training provides adults mandated by state law and Archdiocesan policy to report suspected child abuse and neglect with information on how to recognize and report child abuse and neglect.
Requirements
The following employees and volunteers are required to complete this training within 60 days of hire:
- School personnel, medical personnel, social service and mental health personnel, law enforcement personnel, coroner/medical examiner personnel, child care personnel and clergy. School personnel are required to recertify every 5 years.
- Catechists, youth ministers, coaches, and pastoral center employees who work directly with children.
- Seminarians must complete this while at the seminary and training is offered to deacons during their formation.
Training Options
- Online training
The Office for the Protection of Children and Youth (OPCY) has partnered with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to use their existing online training: Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse: Training for Mandated Reporters. At this time, online training is available in English and Spanish. Participants should be aware of the following:- Training takes at least 60 minutes to complete.
- You must use a computer with a printer to print the certificate at the completion of the training. Only a computer-generated certificate will be accepted.
- The computer used for training must be equipped with speakers or a headset to allow you to hear the audio.
- Employees must have their employee ID number (can be found on a paycheck stub). Volunteers use an email address to create their online training account.
Please click here to access online training.
Protecting God's Children for Adults is conducted by certified facilitators on the prevention of child sexual abuse. The training educates participants on the signs of child sexual abuse, the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse, and how to prevent it.
Facilitators incorporate Archdiocesan policies and procedures into the training, defining child sexual abuse, addressing the reporting of child sexual abuse, and the screening and selection of employees and volunteers.
Requirements
- All employees and volunteers who work with children and youth must fulfill this compliance requirement. Anyone employed two months or longer who has not attended are at risk to be suspended from their work or volunteer for the Archdiocese of Chicago until compliance is met.
- Participants must be present for the entire training session to receive credit for attendance.
- All Archdiocese employees and volunteers who work with children must create and maintain an online account with VIRTUS when they register online to take the training. After attending employees and volunteers must submit a copy of the certificate of attendance to the location they work/volunteer at and continue the monthly ongoing education (bulletin reading). Ongoing education is required 12 times in the first year, six in the second year and four in the third year of employment.
Training Options
Please see below for training options. Contact dwilson@archchicago.org with additional questions.
Participate in Training
If you have never participated in this training, click here to find and pre-register for an upcoming training session and create a new account.
Participated in Training with Another Diocese
If you have taken this training with another diocese, please contact VIRTUS at 888.847.8870 to authorize them to transfer your account to the Archdiocese of Chicago. Please note, online trainings of Virtus Protecting God’s Children for Adults do not meet the Archdiocese of Chicago’s requirement.
Unable to Attend a Registered Session
If you have already created an account and pre-registered for a training session, but did not make a session and need to transfer your account to a different training session, click here to view upcoming sessions. Please be sure to use your existing account to transfer your information. If you are unable to transfer your account to another session, email the date and location you would like to attend training along with your VIRTUS user ID to dwilson@archchicago.org.
Create a VIRTUS Account Online
If you have already attended a training session, but never created a VIRTUS account online go to www.virtusonline.org and create a new account. Be sure to choose the training session you attended from the drop-down box when asked. When completed, contact us to have your account approved/activated at 312.534.5206 or email dwilson@archchicago.org.
If you have already participated in training for the Archdiocese of Chicago, log in to your account at www.virtusonline.org to ensure it is approved, active and updated with your current information.
Every parish and school is required to have a Site Administrator, an on-site employee designated by a pastor or principal at their parish or school, whose qualifications and duties include, but are not limited to, the management of compliance data for their site’s employees and volunteers. Site Administrator Training provides administrators with an understanding of the responsibilities and expectations to ensure and verify every employee and volunteer has complied with Safe Environment requirements.
Upcoming Trainings
Date: Wednesday, January 24, 2018
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Limited Seating: 10
Location: Office for the Protection of Children and Youth, 743 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60654
*Special Instructions: Parking at the Holy Name Cathedral lot
Date: Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Limited Seating: 20
Location: St. Edmund, 188 South Oak Park Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60302
*Special Instructions: parking lot behind parish, going East on Pleasant Avenue
Date: Thursday, March 22, 2018
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Limited Seating: 20
Location: St. Denis Church, 8301 S. St Louis Avenue, Chicago, IL 60652
Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Limited Seating: 15
Location: St. Turibius, 5646 S. Karlov Avenue, Chicago, IL 60629
*Special Instructions: Rectory B
Date: Thursday, May 17, 2018
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Limited Seating: 20
Location: St. Cornelius Parish, 5430 West Foster Avenue, Chicago, IL 60630
*Special Instructions: Parish Hall
Date: Tuesday, June 19, 2018
Time: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Limited Seating: 20
Location: Frassati Catholic Academy, 316 West Mill Street, Wauconda, IL 60084
*Special Instructions: Proceed to parish office, right door
Registration is required for training. Please register at least five business days prior to the scheduled training. To register please click on the following link: www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0a49adaf29a1f49-site1. Please contact Judy Gavina at jgavina@archchicago.org or call 312.534.5254 if you have any questions. Classes may be canceled due to low enrollment.
Each parish and school should have a trained, certified VIRTUS Facilitator. Employees/volunteers interested in being certified to train are required to participate in this two-day training hosted by the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth (OPCY). For pertinent information and to obtain the required application form, contact Maricela Gonzalez at 312.534.5388 or magonzalez@archchicago.org.
Requirements
Applicants must be in compliance with the Safe Environment requirements prior to taking the training.
Upcoming Trainings
Date: March 9 & 10th
Time: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm both days
Location: Our Lady of the Woods Parish, 10731 W 131st Street, Orland Park, IL 60462
Parking: Parish Lot
Date: June 15th & 16th
Time: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm both days
Location: St. Edna Parish, 2525 N Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60004
Parking: Parish Lot
Date: October 19th & 20th
Time: 8:30 am – 4:00 pm both days
Location: Archbishop Quigley Center, 835 N Rush Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Parking: Across the street from Holy Name Cathedral
