Protecting God's Children

Thank you for volunteering at St Elizabeth’s church.
In accordance with requirements mandated by the Archdiocese of Newark, all adults, staff and volunteers alike, involved with the children and/or teenagers of our parish must comply with the following requirements of the Protecting God’s Children Program prior to being able to volunteer:
EVERYONE WHO WORKS OR VOLUNTEERS AT ST ELIZABETHS AND HAS CONTACT WITH MINORS MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING
(If you have participated in another diocese please let me know).
Please note...This information is for St Elizabeth Parish volunteers…NOT school volunteers, employees, or parents. Please see the school website for info..

IF YOU ARE A RETURNING VOLUNTEER. PLEASE LOG INTO YOUR VIRTUS ACCOUNT AND CONFIRM YOU ARE CURRENT WITH PAPERWORK, TRAINING AND BACKGROUND CHECK.

1. Complete the Protecting God's Children 2022 application . Sign and initial. Return to parish office

2. Go to link and read Policies on profession and ministerial conduct

3. Sign the Code of Conduct. Return to parish office OUR OFFICE MUST HAVE THE ABOVE ITEMS IN YOUR FILE.

4. A background check will be run every 5 yrs through the Archdiocese and Sterling Volunteers. This will be initiated from this parish office after your paperwork is complete.

5.. Go to www.virtusonline.org , AND REGISTER YOURSELF. Click on the “FIRST-TIME REGISTRANT” tab on the left hand side of the page, Select the, Newark, NJ(Archdiocese). Then create your account. You will be registered from St Elizabeth, Wyckoff If you have volunteered in the past and have an existing Virtus account you can check your status.

IF YOU FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD, PLEASE DO NOT CREATE A NEW ACCOUNT. LET ME KNOW AND I CAN SEND IT TO YOU.
Any questions please email Joanne Ciaravino at [email protected]

6. Attend a PGC Workshop click here If you have not attended any of the training workshops, you will register for "Protecting God's Children" thru your Virtus acct. You may do the workshop at any location offered on Virtus. If you have already completed the "Protecting God's Children" workshop and are due for retraining, you will register for "Keeping the Promise Alive". All workshops/trainings /certifications are good for 5yrs.

QUESTIONS Please email me at [email protected]

Joanne Ciaravino

Local Safe Environment Coordinator

HOW TO REPORT ABUSE

The Archdiocese of Newark takes very seriously any and all credible complaints of sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy, religious, lay staff and volunteers of the Archdiocese. We encourage anyone with knowledge of an act of sexual abuse of a minor to inform the Archdiocese immediately so that we can take appropriate action to protect others and provide support to victims of sexual abuse. If you suspect a child is in imminent danger from abuse, please call 911 immediately. To report known or suspected child abuse: Contact the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) 24-Hour Child Abuse Hotline: 1-877-652-2873 and contact the Bergen County Prosecutor (201) 646-2300 | New Jersey Clergy Abuse Hotline: (855) 363-6548. Any person who wishes to report an incident of sexual abuse of a minor committed by a member of the clergy, religious, lay staff or volunteer of the Archdiocese of Newark should contact the Archdiocese as follows:

Karen Clark

Director, Department for the Protection of the Faithful

Archdiocese of Newark 973-497-4254

email: [email protected] Gina Criscuolo, LCSW Coordinator, Office of Accompaniment

201-407-3256 [email protected]