The VIRTUS® Awareness Program is mandatory for all parish volunteers who have contact with children. This VIRTUS® Awareness Program  must be completed as mandated by the Archdiocese of Boston to remain certified.

Training and Education

As part of the Archdiocesan response to the scandal of sexual abuse of children in the Church, the Office of Child Advocacy, Implementation and Oversight has launched multiple programs that focus on the protection of children. The following provides some introductory information on the Parish Program For Adults and Children. 

• For Local Parish Training for Protecting God’s Children please visit www.virtusonline.org 

• OCA Training of Trainers  

Protecting God's Children for Adults

A prevention and awareness training at the parish level for adults - called "Protecting God's Children", and administered by the Catholic Risk Retention Group under an umbrella called VIRTUS - consists of classroom presentations, printed materials, and videos that will focus on the prevention of abuse and the protection of children.

The program is designed particularly for those adults who have custodial care of children as part of their duties. Training in the signs and symptoms that indicate a child is being abused in some way, and how to talk with children about these issues will also be included, as will training in the responsibilities of mandated reporting and the archdiocese's policies and procedures for preventing child abuse. An on-line component called "VIRTUS On-Line" will provide continued training through monthly bulletins and annual recertification. For more information about VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children", see http://www.virtusonline.org/virtus/protecting_children.cfm