VIRTUS Information for Volunteers

To be cleared to work with minors, you’ll need to complete 5 tasks:

  • Criminal Background Check (in VIRTUS)
  • Protecting God’s Children Online Training Module (in VIRTUS)
  • Illinois Mandated Reporter Online Training Module (linked in VIRTUS)
  • Digitally Sign the Archdiocese Standards of Behavior Agreement (in VIRTUS)
  • Print and Sign the CANTS 689 and CANTS 22 Forms (can be printed from VIRTUS, but must be submitted to the parish office in hard copy)

 

Once you create an account in VIRTUS, it will walk you through all of these. Here’s how to get started:

  1. Go to www.virtus.org and click FIRST-TIME REGISTRANT
  2. Click:
    1. FIRST-TIME REGISTRANT
    2. Begin the registration process
    3. Chicago, IL (Archdiocese)
    4. No
  3. It will then prompt you to create a username/password and enter some information about yourself. Take care to enter your legal name, email, and date of birth correctly. Those over 18 will be asked to consent to a background check, which usually comes back the same day. You just completed the first item on your list! 
  4. Once your account has been created, you will see a homepage that looks like this:
    Now complete the Protecting God’s Children Training – from the homepage, click on the red tile labelled “Current Training” and follow the instructions to complete the module(s). You’re done with your second requirement!
  5. Complete the Illinois Mandated Reporter Online Training Module – return to your Virtus dashboard and click on “Current Training” again. Follow the prompts / use the link to the Illinois Mandated Reporting website. Complete the training module and then SAVE YOUR COMPLETION CERTIFICATE. Virtus is supposed to know that you completed the training, but sometimes the connection doesn’t work well and we need your completion certificate. That’s item #3 done!
  6.   Sign Your Documents – Click on the Required Documents tile and digitally sign the Archdiocese’s Standards of Behavior document. You will also be able to print the CANTS forms here, but the those have to be turned in on paper. Once we receive your CANTS forms and upload them, the tile will turn green. Then you’re all done with your requirements!
  7.   Email us so that we can check that everything is showing as completed on our end and confirm you are cleared to work with children. The best person to contact is the leader of the ministry you are volunteering with.

Thank you for taking the time to become a cleared volunteer!!