What is VIRTUS® Protecting God's Children training?

The Protecting God’s Children program is the VIRTUS program for protecting children from child sexual abuse. Protecting God’s Children is a 3-hour awareness session for adults in the faith community who interact with minors.
 

Participants are taught to identify situations that could leave a child vulnerable, the methods of sexual offenders and critical steps to help prevent abuse.

Who is required to attend Protecting God's Children workshops?

• All clergy working in the Archdiocese of Detroit
• All adult paid employees of Central Services, Parishes, and Catholic Schools
• All adult volunteers who have regular and/or unsupervised contact with minors

Not our Compliance, but our Calling

Often when we hear about the efforts of the Church in regard to sexual abuse, we hear about the importance of compliance with the USCCB Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. From a faith environment perspective, the importance is not in our compliance, but in our calling. As Catholics we are called to respect the life and dignity of every human person from conception to natural death. The Charter guides us in action to our calling. Our calling furthers the Gospel message of Christ.

Register for VIRTUS Protecting God's Children workshop

Host a Protecting God's Children adult workshop

Visit VIRTUS Protecting God's Children website

AOD Resource Link

Circle of Grace is the approved safe environment training program for elementary and high school students enrolled in religious education in the Archdiocese. The goal of the Circle of Grace program is to educate and empower children and young people to actively participate in a safe environment for themselves and others.

Circle of Grace is the love and goodness of God that surrounds us and all others. It is the recognition that God is with us always and is there to help us in difficult situations. Through the Circle of Grace Program, adults assist children and youth to recognize God’s love by understanding that each of us lives and moves within a Circle of Grace.

The Circle of Grace program teaches children and young people to seek help from a trusted adult, reinforcing God’s presence in their real life struggles.

AOD Resource Link

Think First & Stay Safe™ is the approved safe environment training program for Catholic School K-8 students.
 

By teaching students the importance of treating themselves and others with kindness and respect, we set behavioral expectations and help youngsters recognize inappropriate and unsafe behaviors. Students learn how to set personal boundaries, identify trusted adults and recognize their instincts at work.

While adults are primarily responsible for keeping youngsters healthy and safe, teaching students to Think First & Stay Safe™ enables them to take an active role in protecting themselves when necessary.

Parent Resources: Child Lures Prevention Think First & Stay Safe!™

AOD RESOURCE LINK

Called to ProtectTM is the approved safe environment training program for ninth grade students in Catholic High Schools. This program addresses boundaries—physical, emotional and behavioral—and how to recognize, stop and act if someone attempts to violate personal boundaries.

Who is required to receive Called to ProtectTM training?

9th Grade students enrolled in Catholic High Schools

Called to ProtectTM training three part series teaches:

• Their three types of boundaries—physical, emotional, and behavioral.
• How molesters try to violate their boundaries.
• Ways to make molesters stop violating their boundaries.
• Methods child molesters use to keep kids from telling.
• The words to use to tell their parents or another trusted adult if someone is abusing them or one of their friends.

AOD Resource Link

Called to Serve is an interactive safe environment training program for teens in our Catholic High Schools and Parishes. Participants leave empowered to:

• Use talents to effectively & responsibly serve others
• Work with and be role models for children
• Communicate and partner with adult supervisors
• Interact appropriately with peers
• Recognize and respond to inappropriate behavior

Who is required to attend Called to Serve workshops?

• All tenth grade students in Catholic High Schools
• Teens grades 9-12 who are church and/or Catholic School employees
• Teens grades 9-12 who volunteer with children

All other teens in grades 9-12 are welcome and encouraged to attend.

View our Called to Serve workshop schedule

Called to Serve Workshop Coordinator Resources

Register for Training:

Called to Serve

AOD Resource Link