Virtus training is mandatory for all HTP/SE employees, and for volunteers 18 or older who work with youth, such as helping in a classroom, lunchroom or playground duty, catechists, those who drive for or chaperone field trips, etc. Please see below for instructions in how to do Virtus training. Thank you! 

revised July 2023

HOLY TRINITY PARISH and ST. EDMOND CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Instructions for VIRTUS Training, Background Check Authorization, and Code of Conduct Acknowledgement
 

1. Virtus, or Protecting God’s Children, is a national program for educating people about child abuse and to teach them how to recognize and prevent it, and is an online class with video and instruction. It discusses warning signs that can help us identify potential child or elder abuse before it happens. This entire 3-step process will take about an hour and a half. Note that a background check is required.
2. Virtus training is mandatory for all HTP/SE employees, and for volunteers 18 or older who work with youth, such as helping in a classroom, lunchroom or playground duty, catechists, those who drive for or chaperone field trips, etc.
3. All three parts (authorizing a background check, acknowledgement of the Code of Conduct, and viewing the actual training) must be done online per diocese procedures. This must be done on a computer, not a smartphone.
4. Go to www.virtusonline.org.
5. Click on “Begin the Registration Process.” Under “Please select your diocese,” select the Sioux City Diocese.
6. It will ask you to select a user ID and password. Please write these down and keep them in a secure place for when you need to access the website again.
7. For the primary location where you work or volunteer, select “St. Edmond Catholic School / Holy Trinity – 242 (Fort Dodge).”
8. Select your role – employee, volunteer, etc. If you will be teaching at SE, select educator.
9. When it asks for your title, this is what you will be doing for the school/parish as an employee or volunteer. Examples would be classroom volunteer, faith formation catechist or helper, band teacher, math teacher, administrative assistant, etc.
10. Answer “no” to “Are you associated with other locations?”
11. There will be several questions about your contact with minors in your work/volunteer capacity.
12. The Code of Conduct is the next part. You will read the Code of Conduct booklet and answer questions interspersed within the text. There is no penalty at all for a wrong answer; it will simply advance to the next question or text. You may go back and review any text that you wish.
13. Complete the acknowledgement form.
14. Select “online training.”
15. IMPORTANT: Now click on “Complete ClearStar Background Check” – accept the first screen, then enter your information on the following screens.
16. You will be required to submit your signature by using your computer’s mouse.
17. Click out of the background check “thank you” screen, then you will be back on the Virtus screen. One of the boxes will be “Current Training – one online module assigned.” Click on that and proceed to view the training videos. There will be questions interspersed with the training that you will need to answer.
18. If you inadvertently totally exited after the background check step, you can log back into virtus.org using the login info you selected, and then do the training. 
19. Your Virtus training, background check authorization, and acknowledgement of the Code of Conduct will then be complete.
20. The background checks are done by a company that the diocese contracts with; HTP/SE personnel receive no actual results, only an e-mail that tells us you were approved. (If you are not approved for any reason, the diocese will send you a registered letter.)
21. Following your Virtus training, all employees and any volunteer working regularly with children will be e-mailed a monthly bulletin by Virtus which you need to read and then answer one question at the end. It does not take a great deal of time and is a requirement for any employee of Holy Trinity Parish and St. Edmond Catholic School, or anyone who volunteers once or more per month.
22. If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact me at the Business/Parish Office at 515-955-6077, ext 2023.