Local Safe Environment Coordinator Corner

Parish Local Safe Environment Coordinator Training Manual  **UPDATED** July 2021 

School Local Safe Environment Coordinator Training Manual **UPDATED** July 2021

LSEC Training Zoom December 6 2022 - recording

Virtus Training Guide  

REVISED-April 2021 Instructions for logging onto Virtus to take Protecting God's Children for the first time

Annual USCCB Youth Protection Audit is open for the next audit period.  Due date is December, 1 2022.  You can enter numbers now for the upcoming year. Click here to access the audit http://youthprotection.rcan.org/main.aspx 

The Empowering God's Children audit is at the same site, and is due April 15, 2023.

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.

Volunteer application is here

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

Employee application is here

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). 

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. 

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 this letter.

Background check cover sheet is here