By Florida Catholic staff - Florida Catholic
1) What is Virtus?Virtus is a brand name identifying an awareness and preventative program. The Archdiocese of Miami utilizes this program for protecting children from child sexual abuse. The word Virtus is Latin and means valor, moral strength, excellence and worth. In ancient times, virtus denoted a way of life and manner of behavior that always aspired to the highest, most positive attributes of people and aspects of human interaction.
2) If I do not work or volunteer with children, do I need to take the Virtus training session?
Yes. All adults are protectors of children. The Archdiocese of Miami believes whole heartedly in the power of Catholics working together. That is why the Archdiocese has included in the Safe Environment Policy the requirement for all employees and volunteers, whether they work with children or not, to complete the Virtus training. It is your role in a faith community to keep your eyes and ears open, and to report any suspicious activity to the proper authorities. The Virtus training session illustrates how to do so effectively.
3) Can the Virtus training session be taken online instead of a live class?
The Virtus program begins with a three hour live training session. After considerable research, Virtus was chosen because of the live session. There are over 39 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse. The subject matter is so emotionally charged that the Archdiocese did not want anyone, especially a survivor, dealing with this issue alone. It was a priority that there be human interaction to see to the cares and concerns of this topic. All continuing training, post the live session, is done online with monthly bulletins and yearly re-certifications.
4) If I took the live Virtus session years ago, but did not register online, does my attendance count or do I need to take it again?
You may post register for the session you attended at any time. If your attendance can be verified, you do not need to take the session again. To know for sure, call the Safe Environment Office at 305-762-1250. They will do a search of their files to find the sign-in sheet from the session you attended. If your signature can be found and you have registered for the session, your account can be activated.
5) What is the continuing training?
Once you have been activated for your attendance of the live Virtus training session, your Virtus account will be sent monthly online bulletins. The bulletins are filled with useful information and are a way to keep the program current. For example, when Virtus was first formulated, no one was talking about cell phone cameras, text messaging or even internet safety. These topics and more, such as vulnerable adults, are covered in the monthly bulletins.
6) I work with vulnerable adults, not children, does this apply to me?
Yes. While the live training focuses on minors, we are all God�s children and in need of protection from predators. The Bishop�s Charter deleted the term �vulnerable adults� from their policy, but the Archdiocese of Miami felt obligated to keep it in the policy. The same practices we use for protecting children also apply to protecting vulnerable adults. Additionally, Virtus bulletins address this segment from time to time.
7) If I have been fingerprinted by another agency, employer or even police department, do I need to do it again with the Archdiocese?
Yes. Due to right to privacy laws, this information may not be shared between agencies. The Archdiocese needs to have its own record on file. Secondarily, not all background checks are a level 2, which we administer.
7) Do I have to register to be fingerprinted?
Yes. You may register at www.adom.sofn.net. You then need to set up an appointment with the location you selected online.
8) If the only volunteering I do is with my parish carnival, do I need to attend the Virtus session and be fingerprinted?
Yes. All volunteers are to be trained and background checked. No matter the frequency or the capacity, as an employee or volunteer in this Archdiocese you are considered a person of trust. You are a part of the solution to the problem of child sexual abuse in our homes, parishes, and communities. You help ensure a safe environment for children be it at a carnival, school or church.
9) Do I have to pay for the training or background check?
No. The Archdiocese provides Virtus training and background checks without charge to employees and volunteers affiliated with the Archdiocese.
10) How do I register for the Virtus training session or get more information?
You may register for Virtus at www.virtusonline.org and click on the word �registration� in the green column. Follow the prompts for a list of upcoming sessions and to register. For more information on the Safe Environment program in the Archdiocese of Miami, call Jan Rayburn at 305-762-1250.
11) How do I get a certificate of attendance for the Virtus training?
After a training session, the sign-in sheets are sent to the Safe Environment Office. Once attendance is verified, accounts are activated. At this time participants can log into their accounts and print their certificate by clicking on the green �Training� tab at the top of the page. From here, click on �live training� in the green column to the left. Here you will see an option to print your certificate. If you do not have a green �Training� tab, call Jan Rayburn at 305-762-1250 to review your account.
By the numbers�
55,611 � Total number of employees (including clergy and religious), volunteers, contractors and vendors fingerprinted in the Archdiocese of Miami from the time the program began in 1998 through March 2011.
24,661 � Number of employees (including clergy and religious), volunteers, contractors and vendors fingerprinted in the Archdiocese of Miami between January 2009 and March 2011.
87,000 � Number of employees (including clergy and religious) and volunteers who received training in Virtus since the program began in 2004; 37,000 are currently users of Virtus online.
30,382 � Number of adults (employees, clergy, religious and volunteers) who received training in Virtus between January 2009 and March 2011. That is the number with active Virtus accounts; approximately 6,000 more have been trained but have not registered online; 23,309 of those trained and registered were volunteers.
135,518 � Approximate number of children in archdiocesan schools and religious education programs who received Teaching Touching Safety classes between January 2009 and March 2011. (Children in every grade receive the lessons each year.)
280 � Number of Virtus training sessions held in the Archdiocese of Miami in 2010 � the most ever held in a single year.
20th � Archdiocesan rank nationwide for number of Virtus sessions held (out of 110 Catholic dioceses that use Virtus).
13th � Archdiocesan rank nationwide for number of adults trained in Virtus.
6th � Archdiocesan rank nationwide for number of facilitators trained to teach Virtus.
1-800-96-ABUSE � Number to call to report any type of child abuse to the Florida Department of Children and Families.
1-866-80-ABUSE � Number to call to report incidents of sexual misconduct by Church personnel (calls go to archdiocesan victim assistance coordinator).
55,611 � Total number of employees (including clergy and religious), volunteers, contractors and vendors fingerprinted in the Archdiocese of Miami from the time the program began in 1998 through March 2011.
24,661 � Number of employees (including clergy and religious), volunteers, contractors and vendors fingerprinted in the Archdiocese of Miami between January 2009 and March 2011.
87,000 � Number of employees (including clergy and religious) and volunteers who received training in Virtus since the program began in 2004; 37,000 are currently users of Virtus online.
30,382 � Number of adults (employees, clergy, religious and volunteers) who received training in Virtus between January 2009 and March 2011. That is the number with active Virtus accounts; approximately 6,000 more have been trained but have not registered online; 23,309 of those trained and registered were volunteers.
135,518 � Approximate number of children in archdiocesan schools and religious education programs who received Teaching Touching Safety classes between January 2009 and March 2011. (Children in every grade receive the lessons each year.)
280 � Number of Virtus training sessions held in the Archdiocese of Miami in 2010 � the most ever held in a single year.
20th � Archdiocesan rank nationwide for number of Virtus sessions held (out of 110 Catholic dioceses that use Virtus).
13th � Archdiocesan rank nationwide for number of adults trained in Virtus.
6th � Archdiocesan rank nationwide for number of facilitators trained to teach Virtus.
1-800-96-ABUSE � Number to call to report any type of child abuse to the Florida Department of Children and Families.
1-866-80-ABUSE � Number to call to report incidents of sexual misconduct by Church personnel (calls go to archdiocesan victim assistance coordinator).
