All volunteers working with children and youth are required to complete the Essential 3 (E3) requirements. Individuals complete the E3 when they begin their employment or volunteer service, and are re-credentialed every three years. E3 consists of: submitting a background check, reading and signing a Code of Conduct, completing Safe Environment training (which includes Reporting Suspected Child Abuse training and a live VIRTUS: Protecting God’s Children (PGC) session). The VIRTUS PGC training is a three-hour awareness session which better equips adults to protect children in the world around them. It is required of all clergy, deacons, school and parish employees as well as all volunteers who are in regular or unsupervised contact with children under the age of 18. This awareness session makes trainees understand the signs of child sexual abuse, the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse.
Please click here to go to Virtus.org and create an account. After you have made an account you can