Safe Environment Awareness

The Diocese of Fort Worth requires that each person who serves the Church or any of the organizations in the Church attends a Safe Environment Awareness Session. The purpose of the sessions is to help the people of the Church become the eyes and ears of the community to make sure we are doing everything we can to provide a safe environment from any form of abuse.  

For Adults to serve in an organization or ministry in the church each person is required to:
 - Register with Virtus (new ministers will need to provide references) 
 - Agree to follow the Code of Conduct for the Diocese of Fort Worth
 - Need to have a background check (this is done every 5 years)
 - Need to attend a Virtus Safe Environment Awareness Session (every 2 years) 

 Virtus Awareness sessions are interactive sessions that are being offered in-person and  a few online in Zoom meetings. Please create a Virtus profile and sign-up for the session by click here , then click on 'First-Time Registration'.  Once you begin the registration process, you will need to make sure you select Fort Worth Diocese  for the organization. Once you have created your profile, you will be able to select a  "Protecting God's Children's" session. If you want an online session,  select a session titled 'Z_other' or make sure that the location you select says the session will be online. All other sessions are in-person.   

 If you have taken an in-person Virtus session since July 2018 and it is time for you to renew your training, you can attend either the "Protecting God's Children" (PGC),  or "Plan to Protect" (PTP) session. Go to virtusonline.org, to sign up for a session. If you are uncertain which session to take and/or do not remember your username, please ask Renée Bader.  

 Awareness sessions at St. Vincent de Paul:
Tuesday, September 30th at 6:30 PM - PTP
Thursday, October 9th at 6:30 PM - PGC
Wednesday, October 15th at 1:00 PM - PTP
Thursday, October 30th at 6:30 PM  - PGC

For Teens/youth (12 yrs -17 yrs)  who serve in a ministry in the church is required to: 
  - Participate in the Empowering God's Children session at Youth Night
 - Attend a Teen Leadership Safe Environment Session
 - Agree to follow the Code of Conduct for the Diocese of Fort Worth

 The Teen Leadership Safe Environment Sessions at St Vincent de Paul for 12-17yrs:

TBA 

 Please contact Renée Bader to register for the Teen Sessions.