By Jan Rayburn - Archdiocese of Miami/Safe Environment

See related story: Always alert to protect God's children 

Do I have to read the monthly Virtus bulletins?

Reading your monthly bulletins will keep your Virtus account active and maintain your eligibility to work or volunteer if you have access to minors or vulnerable adults. The bulletins take between 3 and 5 minutes to read. They are written by experts in the industry and packed with timely and topical information that keeps the Virtus training up to date. This is especially true when it comes to information on Internet safety

Can I access my Virtus monthly bulletins in Spanish?

Yes. Log into www.virtus.org and click on: ESPA�OL: ACCESO E INSCRIPCIÓN. Then enter your user ID and password. You will then have access to your account in Spanish.

¿Puedo acceder a mis boletines mensuales de Virtus en español?

Sí. Ingrese a www.virtus.org y haga clic en: ESPA�OL: ACCESO E INSCRIPCIÓN. A continuación, introduzca su identificación de usuario y contraseña. A continuación, tendrá acceso a su cuenta en español.

What happens if my account is suspended?

Once a year, accounts that are significantly behind in their readings are suspended for non-compliance. These participants are notified two weeks prior in case they want to catch up to avoid suspension. They are notified again when their account is suspended. If they need reactivation to be eligible to serve, they may email [email protected] to request it.

What if I have forgotten my user ID and password?

You may log into www.virtus.org and click on “forgot password” or you can request the information be sent to you by automated email by contacting [email protected].

Why can’t I see the Training tab in my account?

If your account used to have the Training tab and now does not, your account was suspended or inactivated. If you require an active account, email [email protected]to request reactivation.

Do I need to retake the live training session?

No. You only need to attend the live Virtus training once. Your account remains active by reading your monthly bulletins.

If I attended a session years ago but never registered online, do I need to attend again?

If verification can be found of your attendance (meaning your signature is on file on the sign-in sheets) then you may post-register at www.virtus.org. You will then need to contact [email protected] to request activation.

How do I share my Virtus account information and/or fingerprint clearance with another location within the Archdiocese of Miami?

You may add multiple locations on your Virtus account by logging in and clicking on Update My Account in the upper right hand corner of the page. You may add as many locations as you need. Once added, your Virtus account information is available to the local coordinator at each site. For example, if you have one child at an elementary school and another at a high school, plus worship at another location, you may add all three. If you need assistance with this, email [email protected].

Contact the fingerprint office at [email protected] to request that additional fingerprint clearance letters be sent to secondary locations.

What should I do, if anything, when I move from serving as a volunteer to being an employee?

You may make changes to your Virtus account by logging in and clicking on “Update My Account” in the upper right hand corner of the page. If you prefer, you may submit your changes by email to [email protected].

For fingerprinting, contact [email protected] to notify the change of status. If going from a volunteer to an employee, you will need to be fingerprinted again.

What if I’m moving out of the archdiocese?

The Virtus programs are utilized by approximately 75 percent of U.S dioceses. If you move to another diocese, contact Virtus National at 1-888-847-8870 to request a transfer. You will then be contacted by a representative of the new diocese regarding specifics of their Safe Environment requirements.

How do I maintain a Virtus account and read monthly bulletins if I do not have an email address or Internet access?

You must still attend the live training session where you will fill out the form for people without Internet access. Then the local coordinator at your site � meaning parish or school � will provide you with printed bulletins. After you read and answer the question, you will turn each bulletin back in to the local coordinator for recording as complete. If you are a regular volunteer, such as a catechist, you may want to check with your ministry head: perhaps you could log in when on site to read the bulletins online.

If I only work one 4-hour shift at the carnival each year, do I need to be fingerprinted and Virtus-trained?

Yes. Anyone with access to children and/or vulnerable adults must comply with the Safe Environment Policy of the Archdiocese of Miami as per the USCCB’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. That’s the short answer.

Consider this: If your event attracts children, it may also attract predators. At an open event, like a carnival or festival, you cannot control who attends. The only thing you know for sure is that children will be on site. So it is paramount that all of those representing the Church, either as employees or volunteers, be cleared and trained to look out for all the children enjoying the event.