More VIRTUS sessions planned in coming months

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
January 8, 2004

Since the Diocese of Sioux City adopted the nationally-recognized safe environment program by VIRTUS titled "Protecting God's Children," more than 4,000 people have successfully completed the training.

According to Kevin Vickery, co-coordinator of the safe environment program with Margaret Fuentes, the diocese has conducted 76 training sessions. Fourteen individuals, who attended an intensive three-day training in Des Moines last July, have facilitated these sessions that have been offered in both parish and school settings throughout the diocese. The first sessions in the diocese were held in mid-August with the most recent offered Jan. 4 and 7.

"Some of our parishes and schools collaborated together. Many sessions had two or three parishes come together," he said. "Almost all of our sessions had people from more than one parish. If I could not go to one offered in my parish, I could attend any of them."

Another 13 sessions have been scheduled through May. Two sessions will be offered in each of the deaneries.

"We are hoping that any employee or volunteer that could not attend a session up to this point or those that didn't realize they had to attend a session will do so now," noted Vickery.

The additional sessions also allow for new employees and volunteers to receive this required training. People are encouraged to think ahead to upcoming volunteer opportunities. For instance, adults who plan to go to Camp CAYOCA this summer will have had to go through this safe environment training.

In accord with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, every diocese was required to create or adopt such a program and all employees along with volunteers who have regular contact with children must attend a training session.

"After Jan. 15, we will be starting to check compliance," said Vickery. "We will begin to look at parishes and schools to see if their volunteers and employees have attended a session. If they have not, they need to make a commitment to attend."

These sessions are open to anyone - interested parents and parishioners.

"One of the pieces of the national charter is that we have a clear and transparent program dealing with the issues of child sexual abuse. Therefore, parents and other interested people should have availability to our program so while we have a list of people who have to attend this program, every Catholic is welcome," said Vickery. "It would be a great learning experience for anyone to attend so they can understand what we are doing."

This safe environment program is designed to teach adults five main concepts. 1) Help them recognize the warning signs or practices that are potential problems for children. 2) To make certain that school and parishes know who the adults are that have access to children. 3) Realize the importance of monitoring all programs for children. 4) Listen to the children when they tell adults things. 5) Communicate concerns to those who can make a difference for the children.

Response to the program has been very positive.

"I am so pleased by the fact that when we go and do training sessions that people are attentive to the information that we have to share and that they want to be a proactive part of creating a safe environment for children in our schools and parishes," said Vickery. He added that they also realize their own participation in the training along with the other pieces of the safe environment program - background checks and code of ethical standards - helps create safe environments for children.

He pointed out that one of the attractions of the VIRTUS program was the continued education it offered on-line. About 3,000 of those who have completed the training - those employees and volunteers who have regular contact with children - are expected to complete on-line VIRTUS training modules twice a month. These take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

After these 13 sessions are presented, future sessions will not be planned until August and September for new employees and volunteers. Thereafter about one session be deanery per quarter will be offered.

While employees and volunteers are required to participate in the VIRTUS training, Vickery stressed that the safe environment program is not offered merely to satisfy an audit.

"The focus of this is that we are doing this because it is a good practice when working with children," he said.