Program Contact for Saint Mary: Sandi Olzinski
610.287.8156
Email: solzinski@churchofsaintmary.org

The VIRTUS class is required by anyone who works directly with the youth of our parish in order to be in compliance
with the Archdiocesan Safe Environment procedures.


The Safe Environment Program is a comprehensive child safety and child sexual abuse prevention program, which creates a network of prevention and protection for the children entrusted into the Archdiocese’s care. The various components of the program include:
• Background checks and clearances
• Child sexual abuse prevention training

"Volunteers who have any possible physical or visual contact with children are required to obtain all three clearances; volunteers who have occasional responsibility and direct contact with children must obtain all three clearances and the two mandated reporter requirements; volunteers who have regular, direct responsibility for and contact with children (once a month or more) must obtain all three clearances, the two mandated reporter requirements and the VIRTUS training. as required by Pennsylvania State Law and the Archdiocese Office for Child and Youth Protection."

Volunteers include, but are not limited to:
PREP catechists and aides, CYO board members and coaches, HASA board members and volunteers, Youth Group Leaders,
during school volunteers and aides, after school club organizers, Scout Leaders, and Theology of the Body Leaders.

Based on changes to the Pennsylvania Child Protective Law, all parish volunteers who work directly with children, who are liturgical ministers (ie. Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Musicians, etc) or who are on the parish campus during the hours when Saint Mary School or PREP is in session , must have ALL THREE of the following clearances. PLEASE NOTE: All documentation must be on file at the parish office center before volunteering can begin.

Required Background Checks

1. PA State Police Criminal Record Check

--Can be obtained online at https://epatch.pa.gov/home
This clearance is FREE to all volunteers beginning July 25, 2015.
Clearance is good for 5 years.

2. PA State Child Abuse Clearance

This clearance is FREE to all volunteers beginning July 25, 2015
Form can be obtained online through https://www.compass.state.pa.us/CWIS/Public/Home
Clearance is good for 5 years.


3. And one of the following :


If you have lived in PA continuously for 10 years
or more:
Disclosure Statement Application for Volunteers
Must be completed every 5 years.

If you have NOT lived in PA continuously for 10 years or more:

Federal Fingerprint Clearance:
Information is available online at: https://uenroll.identogo.com and use service code of 1KG6ZJ. This code is only good for volunteers. If you are a Parish or Saint Mary School employee please contact the Parish Office Center for the correct code. Clearance is good for 5 years.

MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING
Based on changes to the Pennsylvania Child Protective Law, all parish volunteers who work directly with children,
or who within their volunteer role accepts responsibility for a child at any time - even if just once a year,
is considered a Mandated Reporter and must complete the training through the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and sign the Mandated Reporter Acknowledgment Form.


Mandated Reporter Online Training
Online course which takes approximately 1 hour to complete.

Certificate can be printed out upon completion of course and submitted to Parish House

Mandated Reporter Acknowledgment Form
Read the Mandated Reporter Brochure from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Complete the Acknowledgement form and submit to Sandi at the Parish Office Center.


VIRTUS Training: (Protecting God’s Children/Safe Environment)

Volunteers with regular, direct contact with children must attend a 2-1/2 hour course called “Protecting God’s Children for Adults." Visit
http://www.virtus.org to register for a class.

A complete list of class dates and locations can be found on the VIRTUS website. This course only needs to be taken once. A signed “Acknowledgement of Receipt of the Standards of Behavior” form must be submitted to the Parish Office Center after the class has been attended.

All clearances and trainings must be obtained before working with children. Individuals cannot begin their volunteer position until all required clearances and training certificates are on file with the Parish Office Center. If you have any questions about clearances/trainings, please contact Sandi Olzinski at the Parish Office Center at solzinski@churchofsaintmary.org or call 610.287.8156.

House updated 7/4/2018