Sexual Abuse Awareness Training Sessions

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston has, since October 2003, required completion of sexual abuse awareness training sessions for employees and volunteers as part of the implementation of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.

There are three ways to complete awareness training in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston: online, printed format, and in-person.

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston primarily accomplishes awareness training online through www.virtusonline.org.  Click “First-Time Registrant” down the left side of the page. Follow the prompts to create an account and complete training online.

You also may complete the training by reading it in printed format and signing a verification page. Please contact your parish, school, or the Office of Safe Environment to complete the training in printed format.

If an in-person VIRTUS session is offered, it will be listed on this page. Please call the training locations for more information regarding in-person sessions.

Continuing awareness education is required every three years for all employees and for volunteers who work directly or substantially with minors. All priests and deacons are considered employees and must complete awareness training every three years.

Visiting or temporarily assigned clergy and visiting international clergy must present a letter of good standing affirming that the Safe Environment process has been completed in the home Diocese. If it is determined that visiting or temporarily assigned clergy will be remaining in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston for any length of time beyond what is considered brief, they will be required to comply with the Safe Environment process here, including completing a background check, policy documents, and awareness training.

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston also requires two yearly VIRTUS awareness training lessons for children, Grades K-12, in parish schools of religion and in Catholic schools. Please see your parish or school for specific details regarding awareness training for children.

Lastly, the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston makes monthly VIRTUS bulletins available for adults who would like additional awareness training beyond the three-year awareness training requirement.

The Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston’s Policy Relating to Sexual Abuse outlines to whom the Safe Environment protocol applies, including awareness training:

All employees of any Diocesan entity must be compliant with Safe Environment. This includes a background check, completion of awareness training, and policy acknowledgements.

All employees and volunteers of every Catholic school (K-12) must be compliant with Safe Environment.

All employees and volunteers participating in any activities on school grounds for any reason must be compliant with Safe Environment. This includes parish volunteers if they are participating in activities on school grounds.

This list is designed to reflect all employees, as well as the most common volunteer roles with direct and/or substantial contact with minors.

This list is designed to assist Diocesan leaders in determining when to apply Safe Environment. It is not all inclusive and there may be other roles that require Safe Environment compliance that are not listed here.

Please contact the Office of Safe Environment at the Chancery with any questions regarding compliance.

Safe Environment compliance applies to those age 18 or older.

  • All priests, deacons, and seminarians
  • All employees at Catholic schools
  • All volunteers at Catholic schools
  • All volunteers affiliated with Catholic school sports, including coaches, concessions, score keepers, referees, and any other roles
  • All employees and volunteers of daycare centers
  • Professionals or special guests whose roles require regular or recurring presence in the Catholic school or at Catholic school activities (recurring may include daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly)
  • All parish employees
  • All employees of any other Diocesan-related entity

Parish volunteers including (age 18 and older):

  • Adult altar servers if they serve with minors
  • Sacristans if minors assist them in any regular or substantive way
  • Choir/Music Director/Choir Members/Musicians if there are minors in the choir or playing musical instruments
  • Children’s Choir Director/Volunteers
  • Directors of Religious Education
  • Parish School of Religion teachers
  • All adult volunteers affiliated with youth and/or youth group activities in any capacity
  • All adult volunteers affiliated with youth/summer camps in any capacity
  • All adult volunteers affiliated with Vacation Bible School in any capacity
  • All adult volunteers involved in any activity that includes direct or substantial contact with children in any way
  • Fish fry volunteers if the fish fry is held on school grounds or if minors volunteer at the fish fry
  • Festival volunteers if the festival is held on school grounds or if minors volunteer at the festival
  • Picnic volunteers if the picnic is held on school grounds or if minors volunteer at the picnic
  • Homebound ministries or any activities relative to vulnerable adults
  • Any activities/ministries involving nursing homes and/or nursing home residents
  • Any activities relative to Boy Scout and Girl Scout councils
  • Any activities involving childcare, babysitting, or before and aftercare