Safe Environment Policy
Recognizing that each individual is created by God, the Archdiocese of Miami is committed to the safety and well-being of its children and vulnerable adults and implements procedures to minimize risk and barriers and to build and foster a culture of safe environment. The Archdiocese does not tolerate abuse or neglect of anyone. It will comply with all obligations of civil and canon law; it will promote healing where it is needed, provide education, training and guidance when it is appropriate, and endeavor to prevent any abuse of minors or vulnerable adults with firm justice and mercy towards all.
The policy requires all employees and those volunteers with access to children or vulnerable adults pass a background check, andhave an active and up to date Virtus account. Additionally, employees must sign an EmployeePledge to Promote Safe Environment. Volunteers, likewise, sign a Volunteer Pledge to Promote Safe Environment.Both of these are electronically signed through their Virtus accounts. To read the complete policy log into the website at: www.miamiarch.org under Protecting God's Children/Policies.
In June 1949, Louis Fenton offered one of his stores to accommodate the growing Catholic community. The first baptisms in the Fenton store (still in existence) in July 1949 were: Charles Funk, Carol Fenton and Joseph Aldocosta. The Fenton store continued to be used until the beginning of Advent 1949, when Mr. Brantner's "old fishin' hole" theater (now Kennedy Art & Framing Gallery) was used. The first Christmas Mass was celebrated by Father Mairing at 9:30 A.M. 1949.
Virtus Training Programs
Protecting God's Children® for Adults is training conducted by VIRTUS certified facilitators on the prevention of child sexual abuse. The training makes participants aware of the signs of child sexual abuse, the methods and means by which offenders commit abuse, and five easy steps one can use to prevent child sexual abuse. Two videos are the centerpiece of the training: A Time to Protect God's Children™ and A Plan to Protect God's Children™. The facilitators incorporate policies and procedures into the training defining child sexual abuse, addressing the reporting of child sexual abuse, the screening and selection of employees and volunteers, and victim advocacy.
Virtus Training
The Archdiocese of Miami, in ongoing efforts to provide safe environments to our children and vulnerable adults, requires all employees and those volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults complete Virtus training. Sessions are held throughout the three county Archdiocese. Participants may attend any of the sessions.
Virtus training sessions run approximately three hours long. Due to the subject matter, children are not allowed in the sessions. This is an audited program so participants will not be allowed to enter if arriving late, nor will their attendance be counted if they leave early.
- To register for a Virtus "Protecting God's Children for Adults" session, log in to www.virtusonline.org and click on "first time registrant" located in the column on the left hand side of the page.
- Next choose "begin the registration process" and choose Miami as the "organization" by scrolling down to the "M's" for Miami to find it.
- Follow the prompts and select the session you want to attend. When arriving at the session, sign the sign-in sheet.
- Once your attendance is verified and your account activated you will be able to log in and print your Training Report anytime through your Virtus account.
For questions please contact: J. Rayburn in the Safe Environment office at jrayburn@theadom.org.