Safe Environment

SAFE ENVIRONMENT - A pledge to Protect, a promise to heal

OVERVIEW

Protecting God's Children - Making the Church a safe environment for all, particularly children and at-risk adults, is a major priority of the administration and staff of the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine. Please take a look at the posters and "Safe Environment & Standards of Conduct Policy" that are posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Center. If you have any questions or would like to learn more about how to make our church, homes and community safer, please contact our Safe Environment Coordinator, Elisa Schmidt  at 732-462-7429, ext. 141 or eschmidtThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To report the sexual abuse of minors call the diocesan hotline 1-888-296-2965 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please note: The Diocese of Trenton reports any allegations of sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agencies. Anyone with an allegation is also encouraged to provide that information to local law enforcement authorities.

 
NEW APPLICANT CERTIFICATION (A STEP-BY-STEP GUide)

Because we are committed to maintaining a safe environment at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine, we have strict policies for vetting staff and volunteers.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering. Below you will find instructions on how to begin your certification process.

  • STEP 1: Fill out the VOLUNTEER APPLICATION.
  • STEP 2: Sign the Diocese of Trenton CODE OF CONDUCT.
  • STEP 3: Sign the CHRISTIAN WITNESS STATEMENT.
  • STEP 4: Create a www.VirtusOnline.org account.
    • Please note that when it asks you to pick a church, you must pick "Trenton, Diocese" first.  Later, you will choose "St. Robert Bellarmine."
    • Creating this account will connect you to IdentoGo and allow you to schedule an appointment. 
    • You will notice that the Code of Conduct is also presented to you when you fill out your VIRTUS account; but for legal reasons, we ask that you submit a hard copy signed document (see STEP 2) to the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine.
    • Accessing IndentoGo through your VIRTUS account ensures that when the DOT receives your background check report from the NJ State Police, you have an account in which the background check can be recorded.
  • STEP 5: It's now time to get your digital fingerprinting done at IdentoGo at 1817 State Route 35, Oakhurst, NJ 07755.
    • Please reference THIS SHEET so you know what to bring for your appointment.
    • For IdentoGo, please note the Contributor Case Number. It is so important that you reference this number during this process, or your application may be delayed).
    • There is a fee for the fingerprinting. Please remit payment to IndentoGo, and we will reimburse you. 
    • TRE127 is your contributor case number.  There are no spaces. If you put in a space, your application will not go through.
    •  All other codes will be put in automatically.
    •  It is very important that you put in the right codes because our fee is based on your code.
  • STEP 6: After your VIRTUS account is created and the fingerprinting is scheduled, you will be prompted to register for an in-person VIRTUS session. You will see all the upcoming sessions. 
    • If you attend an in-person session, the Diocese of Trenton will receive your signed attendance sheet and process and activate your account.
    • If you are unable to do an in-person course, just go to the end of the list and press “continue” or “next.” Please email Elisa, and she will assign online training. 
  •  STEP 7: Once the training and background check have been completed, the Diocese of Trenton will send us your safe environment card and original criminal background check letter.
    • We will let you know when you can pick up your card and letter. You will also be given a card holder and lariat, and you must wear your Safe Environment Card when you are doing ministry work.
    • When you come, please bring your:
      • Application.
      • Code of Conduct.
      • Christian Witness Statement so we can get them into your file and upload the documents to the Virtus site.
      • The receipt for your IdentoGo payment (so we can reimburse you).
  • STEP 8: Soon after this process is complete, you will get an email asking you to link your Virtus account to Selection.com. This is an easy process, and it should only take a few minutes.

The certification process clears you for volunteer work in the Diocese of Trenton for 4 years. After that 4-year period has expired, you will be required to re-certify your VIRTUS training and your file will be resubmitted to Selection.com.  Your digital fingerprints will not have to be redone since they will already be on file.

If you have any questions, please contact Elisa at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.or 732-462-7429 x141.

 

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