Safe Environment
The Diocese of Dallas has adopted a Safe Environment Program and mandated its implementation in all parishes, schools, and Diocesan entities. This program ensures that St. Joseph Parish and School, in compliance with Diocesan guidelines, is providing a healthy and safe environment for our children. All persons interested in volunteering in any way at the school (i.e., room parent, coach, cafeteria helper, field trip chaperone, etc.) must first be screened and cleared through the program.
New Volunteers
New volunteers should complete all of the Safe Environment requirements during the first quarter of the new school year. The process takes preparation and time, so clearance is not guaranteed on short notice immediately before events. Once cleared at the beginning of the school year, volunteers are prepared and ready as opportunities arise!
Screening Process:
This process enables us to include you as a participant in The Safe Environment Program.
Creating an account with VIRTUS® Online and completing the required information is used to determine your identity and history.
Complete the Screening Form. Be sure to select volunteer as the primary role if another location in the Diocese of Dallas has previously screened you. In that case, you can add St. Joseph to your current profile, or contact the Safety Director where you were screened and request that they add St. Joseph Catholic School to your records. If all information is current, you will then be cleared to volunteer at St. Joseph.
The screening form has four parts:
- Personal data
- Personal reference information (Please provide email addresses)
- Permission for us to conduct a personal Criminal Background Check (CBC every 2 years)
- Policy Acknowledgements
Training:
All employees and volunteers of St. Joseph Church and School are required to take the Protecting God's Children Online Awareness Session 4.0 course. The training is accomplished via the internet. It consists of a 90-minute video. Be aware that you can log out at any time, so you don't have to devote an entire 90 minutes to it at once.
At the end of the training, you will be required to complete a 25-question examination on the material. Upon completion of the exam, with a score of 70% or higher, you will be issued a certificate of completion, and your record in the Safe Environment database will be updated to reflect your successful completion of your annual retraining. Since the database will be updated, the Safe Environment officer does not need an image of the certificate.
All participants are required to take part in a personal interview process. Please get in touch with the Safe Environment Coordinator, Marc Holmes, at mholmes@sjcstx.net to schedule that interview.
Completion:
When you have successfully completed all requirements of the Safe Environment Program, you will be issued a Volunteer picture ID badge. All volunteers are required to wear the badge while on the St. Joseph campus. We truly appreciate all who are willing to volunteer, but you may NOT volunteer in any capacity at St. Joseph Catholic School/Parish until all program requirements have been met. It is important to note that once you are initially cleared to volunteer, you must be re-certified at the beginning of each new school year. This is done by simply completing an online renewal class.
Returning Volunteer
Returning Volunteers:
All volunteers must renew Safe Environment training each year. Recertification is done by completing an online renewal class.
Please follow the instructions below to access the training module.
Please access your account at VIRTUS® Online.
Either type in your User ID and Password or select "I need Login help" in the blue box.
Select the Current Training requirements and complete the required training.
After training is renewed, returning volunteers must complete and submit a Badge Request Form to receive an ID badge for the new school year. (Badge Request Form is on the prior page.) When your form is received, your Safe Environment training status will be verified, and your badge will be printed. You may turn the form into the school office, or you may scan and email it to mholmes@sjcstx.net. Please allow 14 days for processing. IMPORTANT NOTE RE: BADGES: All volunteers are required to wear their badges to identify themselves while on campus. It must be visible to staff and students at all times. Your picture ID badge is confirmation that you have been cleared through the Diocesan Safe Environment program.
If you have any questions regarding Safe Environment requirements, please call Marc Holmes at 972-234-4679 or email mholmes@sjcstx.net.