In accordance with the Archdiocese of Washington Child Protection Policy, all school volunteers who have substantial contact with children must submit to a criminal background check (including fingerprinting) and attend a VIRTUS training program. This includes, but is not limited to, chaperoning field trips, school functions, classroom assistance, and lunch/playground duty.

This training program, called Protecting God’s Children, is given by VIRTUS periodically via ZOOM and in-person locally. The VIRTUS programs assist the Church in being a safe haven for children and a messenger for preventing child sexual abuse within the Church and society in general. VIRTUS begins by making adults of the Church that interact with children aware of how to protect children. The program for adults is a three to four hour awareness session that instructs adults of the Church that interact with children that to protect children you must have continuous awareness and vigilance. This awareness session makes trainees understand the signs of child sexual abuse, the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse and five empowerment steps one can use to prevent child sexual abuse.

Parents can visit the VIRTUS Online website to get information on upcoming sessions (dates and locations) as well as register for the session. Choose “Washington, DC (Archdiocese)” as your organization.

Contact the school Child Protection Coordinator for fingerprint information and questions about Virtus Requirements.