The Diocese of Joliet recently revised our two Safe Environment policies: Policy Regarding Sexual Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Adults (Revised July 15, 2021) and Standards of Behavior for Those Working with Minors and Vulnerable Adults (revised July 15, 2021).

All volunteers need to log in to their Virtus account to complete this requirement. Go to virtusonline.org, and enter your User ID and password. On the Home tab, you will see the "Required Documents" box is red for those who have yet to read the policies and electronically sign off on them. 

Anne Montgomery
Visitation Church Protecting God's Children
anne@visitationcc.org
(630) 834-6700 ext. 202

For more information:
Visit our diocesan website at: www.dioceseofjoliet.org/ct/

• Read the “Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People,” by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
• Read the “Diocese of Joliet Standards of Behavior for Those Working with Minors and Vulnerable Adults” (Revised 7-15-21).
• Read the “Diocese of Joliet Policy Regarding Sexual Abuse of Minors and Vulnerable Adults” (Revised 7-15-21).

Every cleric, diocesan employee, or volunteer who is involved with minors or vulnerable adults, and those who may have an opportunity to be alone with minors or vulnerable adults, during parish, school, or religious education sponsored events, are required to complete the following requirements prior to employment or volunteering:

1. Register with VIRTUS (create a VIRTUS account for the Diocese of Joliet/St. Isaac Jogues)
2. Read two Diocese of Joliet Policies and electronically acknowledge and date each one (see below for links)
3. Complete a Protecting God’s Children training session
4. Submit to a fingerprint-based criminal background check (employees), or a name-based criminal background check in Selection.com/FASTRAX (volunteers)
5. ​Additional requirements for employees, school board members, coaches, scout leaders, religious education, and youth ministry volunteers.

1. Go to http://www.virtus.org.
2. Click on the green box First-Time Registrant.
3. Click on Begin registration process.
4. Select your organization which is Joliet, IL (Diocese).
5. Then create a User ID and Password for your Virtus Account **. Be sure to list yourself with the proper Role and Secondary Role (if applicable), i.e., Volunteer: Coach.
6. Follow the instructions on the screen which include reading and acknowledging two Diocesan Policies, and then complete a Protecting God’s Children online session.
7. At this point, new employee applicants will stop and contact the hiring manager for instructions to be fingerprinted, and volunteers will be transferred from VIRTUS to selection.com/FASTRAX to complete a name-based background check. Do not enter a social security number-it is not needed.
8. When you have completed the Protecting God’s Children session and your background check is complete, you will be notified.
9. For employees, school board members, coaches, scout leaders, religious education, and youth ministry volunteers - you must complete the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Mandated Reporter Training and recertification training every 3 years, (go to https://mr.dcfstraining.org/). Then, submit your Training Certificate, the Mandated Reporter Acknowledgement (DCFS Cants 22 Form), and a Volunteer Application.
10. Employees must also complete Sexual Harassment Prevention Training annually through their Virtus Account.

​​** If you already have a VIRTUS account in the Diocese of Joliet, sign in and add Visitation Parish in the green box labeled My Info at + Add Role and Location and contact the Safe Environment Coordinator listed below. If you do not know your login information, please contact the Helpdesk at helpdesk@virtus.org or call 1-888-847- 8870 to recover your login information. If you have a Virtus Account in another diocese or archdiocese, contact the Helpdesk to add or transfer your Account to the Diocese of Joliet/Visitation Parish

Anyone with reason to believe that a child has been abused or is being abused should report their suspicions to civil authorities. Contact: Illinois Department of Children and Family Services: 1-800-25ABUSE (1-800-252-2873) or local police.

​The Diocese of Joliet Victim Assistance Coordinator is available to help victims/survivors of child sexual abuse by a cleric, employee or volunteer of the Catholic Church. The Victim Assistance Coordinator will report to the Bishop and coordinate efforts of pastoral support and outreach to assist in the healing process. The Victim Assistance Coordinator can also assist in making a report to civil authorities. Contact the Diocese of Joliet Victim Assistance Coordinator at 1-815-263-6467.