Safe Environments

New policy: FINGERPRINTING & BACKGROUND CHECKS, updated 8/1/26

Fingerprinting is required for clergy (priests and deacons); archdiocesan, parish, and school employees; and any volunteers who work directly with children and/or vulnerable adults. Volunteers who do not work directly with children and/or vulnerable adults are required to undergo an iChat (Michigan State Police) background check every 2 years.

Please read our background check and criminal convictions policy HERE.

MORE INFORMATION TO FOLLOW AS TO WHEN FINGERPRINTING WILL BE AVAILABLE.

ADULT VOLUNTEERS

ALL Adult staff and volunteers (age 18 and older) are required to complete all Safe Environments requirements (complete a criminal background check authorization form, submit a copy of their Driver’s License, and complete a Protecting God’s Children Workshop every three years). These requirements must be met before an adult begins their volunteer or employment position at OLGC.

STEP ONE: REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT AT VIRTUS.ORG
If you have not previously completed Protecting God's Children training, create an account at Virtus.org. Click “First-Time Registrant" and then "Begin the registration process". As you complete your profile, you will be prompted to sign an electronic background check authorization form and a code of conduct.

STEP TWO: SIGN UP TO TAKE PROTECTING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAINING
Once you have created an account at Virtus.org, you can sign up for an coming training. Choose Detroit Archdiocese from the organization list. Both in-person and online (Zoom) sessions are available.

STEP THREE: SUBMIT A COPY OF YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE
Please submit a copy of your driver’s license to: OLGC Parish Office, Attn: Laura Hickey, 1062 Church St, Plymouth, MI 48170. Alternatively, email a copy to [email protected].

RECERTIFICATION
If you have previously completed Protecting God's Children training, completion of an online recertification module must be done every three years. We will email you before your certification expires so you can login to virtus.org and complete the assigned module.

TEEN VOLUNTEERS

High school students who wish to volunteer at any AOD parish or school must complete the Virtus Online workshop: Healthy Relationship for Teens 2.0 Online Module Expansion with SafeEnvironment Components.

This module is accessible online through Virtus (virtusonline.org) and is intended to help youth identify the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships.

The module also equips teens to follow a plan to do the right thing for themselves and others upon recognizing an unhealthy situation.

This module takes approximately 35 minutes to complete. To access the module, teen volunteers need to register on the Virtus site. After inputting their date of birth, the system will know their minor status and will assign them the Healthy Relationships forTeens 2.0 module.