Local Safe Environment Coordinator and Facilitator Information

Introducing

Empowering God’s Children

Learn about the Empowering God’s Children (EGC) program through two videos featuring Cardinal Tobin and Karen Clark, Executive Director of Protection of the Faithful. This initiative focuses on helping our youth stay safe and aware, ensuring they are protected and nurtured in faith communities. Along with the videos, we’re excited to introduce new printed materials to support this effort. Together, they offer practical insights on creating safe, supportive environments for children within the Archdiocese of Newark.”

An important message from Cardinal Tobin An important message from Karen Clark More information about EGC

Facilitator Information

All active facilitators must use V 4.0 of the program – if you need materials, email the Safe Environment Compliance Team sect@rcan.org.

Download procedures

Reminder that all active facilitators must use V 4.0 of the program – if you need materials, send an email to sect@rcan.org.

As was said in the mandatory update, bring extra blank certificates and a blank sign in sheet, as well as the walk-in sheet (English/ Spanish), which are only for Walk-ins! Everyone gets a certificate, but you need to print the certificates and sign in sheets from Virtus for the pre-registered enrollees.

Keeping the Promise Alive

Keeping the Promise Alive is for recertification only. It lasts 90 minutes and is good for five years. Until a 4.0 version comes out, you are to teach the second half of a PGC 4.0 session. Those attending for the second time need to work with the Local Safe Environment Coordinator or contact sect@rcan.org.

Instructions for logging onto Virtus to take Protecting God’s Children for the first time

First time attendees not on Facilitator’s Sign in Sheet should be given the Walk In Note (English/ Spanish)

Local Safe Environment Coordinator Information

The Local Safe Environment Coordinator (LSEC) must ensure the volunteers (in ministry with minors) and employees at their location have the required safe environment documentation on file.

Local Safe Environment Coordinator Information

The Local Safe Environment Coordinator (LSEC) must ensure the volunteers (in ministry with minors) and employees at their location have the required safe environment documentation on file.

For Volunteers (in ministry with minors)

For Employees

For Archdiocesan School Employees

Protecting God’s Children recertification options

Individuals who have opted in to online recertification are required complete an annual training module (which has a certificate) AND read a monthly bulletin (article). The Office of Child and Youth Protection will suspend any individuals who have 18 monthly bulletins or more that are unread. Their Virtus ID’s will be suspended, and they will be unable to work/volunteer until they have restored their certification. If this method isn’t working for them, encourage them to take the class again instead (good for 5 years!) The LSEC must review this information monthly and contact any individuals at their parish or school who are behind. Individuals who are receive 2 suspensions will be ineligible for online recertification and will have to attend a live class to recertify.

Any LSEC that has users who are suspended should contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection for guidance.

The following live classes are acceptable for recertification: Protecting God’s Children (3 hours in length and good for 5 years) and Keeping the Promise Alive (90 minutes in length and good for 5 years). Individuals can also opt in to recertify online (which has an annual and monthly requirement). Individuals must use their original Virtus id to register for a live class and/or to access their online recertification content. Those who have taken Protecting God’s Children over 10 years ago must take the in-person Protecting God’s Children again.

(Users who have forgotten their Virtus username and password can visit virtusonline.org and click on “Need login information?” to retrieve-please do not create a new Virtus account).

Users needing additional assistance can contact the Safe Environment team at sect@rcan.org.

If you are recertifying your Protecting God’s Children by doing the online option, please ensure you are reading the monthly articles in addition to doing the annual recertification module. Your account may be suspended in Virtus when no articles have been read in the previous year, and you will be unable to volunteer.
An employee application; signed Archdiocesan Code of Conduct; proof of Protecting God’s Children certification/recertification; and documentation of a Criminal History background check (fingerprints) from the New Jersey Department of Education Office of Student Protection-Criminal History Unit (must be archived to the employee’s current school location).

USCCB Youth Protection Audit

Additional Resources

Parish training manual School training manual Virtus Training Guide Virtus first-time login instructions LSEC Training Zoom June 27, 2024 – Recording Lsec lunch and learn november 20, 2024 – recording from read app Zoom recording with passcode

Local Safe Environment Coordinator Information

The Local Safe Environment Coordinator (LSEC) must ensure the volunteers (in ministry with minors) and employees at their location have the required safe environment documentation on file.

For Volunteers (in ministry with minors)

A completed Volunteer application; signed Archdiocesan Code of Conduct; proof of Protecting God’s Children certification/recertification and a current Sterling Volunteers background check.

Download the Volunteer Application

For Employees:

A completed Employee application; signed Archdiocesan Code of Conduct; proof of Protecting God’s Children certification/recertification; and a current Sterling Backcheck background check

Download the Employee Application

For Archdiocesan School Employees

An Employee application; signed Archdiocesan Code of Conduct; proof of Protecting God’s Children certification/recertification; and documentation of a Criminal History background check (fingerprints) from the New Jersey Department of Education Office of Student Protection -Criminal History Unit (must be archived to the employee’s current school location).

Protecting God’s Children recertification options

Individuals who have opted in to online recertification are required complete an annual training module (which has a certificate) AND read a monthly bulletin (article). The Office of Child and Youth Protection will suspend any individuals who have 18 monthly bulletins or more that are unread. Their Virtus ID’s will be suspended, and they will be unable to work/volunteer until they have restored their certification. If this method isn’t working for them, encourage them to take the class again instead (good for 5 years!) The LSEC must review this information monthly and contact any individuals at their parish or school who are behind. Individuals who are receive 2 suspensions will be ineligible for online recertification and will have to attend a live class to recertify.

Any LSEC that has users who are suspended should contact the Office of Child and Youth Protection (sect@rcan.org) for guidance.

The following live classes are acceptable for recertification: Protecting God’s Children (3 hours in length and good for 5 years) and Keeping the Promise Alive (90 minutes in length and good for 5 years). Individuals can also opt in to recertify online (which has an annual and monthly requirement). Individuals must use their original Virtus id to register for a live class and/or to access their online recertification content. Those who have taken Protecting God’s Children over 10 years ago must take the in-person Protecting God’s Children again.

(Users who have forgotten their Virtus user name and password can visit www.virtusonline.org and click on “Need login information?” to retrieve-please do not create a new Virtus account).

Users needing additional assistance can contact the Safe Environment team at sect@rcan.org.

If you are recertifying your Protecting God’s Children by doing the online option, please ensure you are reading the monthly articles in addition to doing the annual recertification module. Your account may be suspended in Virtus when no articles have been read in the previous year, and you will be unable to volunteer.

USCCB Youth Protection Audit

Annual USCCB Youth Protection Audit is open for the next audit period. Due date is December 1, 2023. You can enter numbers now for the upcoming year. Click here to access the audit: https://youthprotection.rcan.org/main.aspx

The Empowering God’s Children audit is at the same site and is due April 15, 2024.

Background check reminder

Volunteers that are signing up for Protecting God’s Children for the first time will be asked to sign the Archdiocesan Code of Conduct electronically, but they must print and sign page 23 and provide the hard copy to the LSEC for their file. In addition, they will be given a link for a Sterling Volunteer background check. Make sure to stress with them they have to choose your location as their location in Virtus. They will be marked Eligible if they come back clear. We do not do a CREDIT check – if people are asking, feel free to give them the Credit Check letter. No Credit Check is ever done as part of the Archdiocese of Newark Sterling background checks.

Credit Check letter Background Check COVER SHEET Fair Credit Reporting Act

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