---
title: Safe Environments Updates | September 10, 2026
---

| View in browser September 10, 2026     Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,   NEW: Background Check Policy Bulletin and Pulpit Announcement We have prepared a fingerprinting bulletin announcement to help you communicate this new policy with your parishioners. This version is editable, so that you may insert the name of your parish and/or school. You are also welcome to use this for a pulpit announcement as well. This announcement is not a requirement but a resource for you to use as you see fit.   NEW: 2026 Local Admin Webinar Training Recording Now Available The Local Admin Webinar recording from Tuesday, September 8th is now available to view. Please see the link below:  2026 VIRTUS Local Admin Training Password: Localadmin2026   NEW: How to Register Someone for PGC Over the Phone If you have technologically challenged people calling to register for an upcoming PGC, please do the following:  Your parish or school’s local VIRTUS administrator may register them by logging in to VIRTUS and selecting "User Search" From there in the top center of the page there is a rectangular button that says, "Add New User." You will click this button.  From there you may ask the user for their legal first and last name, address, telephone number, and all the other prompts provided.  Finally, you will ask them which in-person session they would like to register for, and you can register them right then and there 🙂  Finally, you can kindly inform them the next time they are present at the parish they can sign their volunteer code of conduct and background check authorization form. You may leave it at the front office with the secretary in a manilla folder with their name on the ledger.    After they have signed the paper documentation, you should upload this information in VIRTUS. You may do this by going into a user's account and clicking on their "required document" tab and clicking on the button at the bottom that says, "Record a document for this user"    NUEVO: Formulario De Autorización De Verificación De Antecedentes En Español Un formulario de autorización para verificación de antecedentes ya está disponible en español. Se cargará y estará disponible para los usuarios de VIRTUS que se registren en español en la próxima semana o dos.   Background Check Authorization Form in Spanish   NUEVO: La página web Empoderando a los Hijos de Dios en español está EN VIVO   Empoderando a los hijos de Dios \| Protect \| Archdiocese of Detroit   Background Check Policy The Office of Safe Environments has released the new Background Check Policy, which can be read HERE – along with a list of FAQ’s This policy is effective August 1, 2026. The most important thing I can say to you is this: Please do not panic; your volunteers do not need to be fingerprinted overnight. This policy is meant to be strategic and thoughtful, bearing the needs and capabilities of parishes and schools.   We had a great turnout for the Background Check Policy Webinar! I am attaching the slides HERE and the link for the recorded webinar below.   Webinar: Background Check Policy Webinar Password: Fingerprinting2026   Please note: As we are getting more inquiries about fingerprinting, I thought it would be helpful to provide the following resources: A fingerprinting memo with the attached forms that need to be filled out ahead of time, a sign-up sheet, and a way to book appointments . The sign-up template is a READ-ONLY so please download the template before trying to use it. You are not required to use these resources; however, it may make the process more efficient. There are also a few things to keep in mind as you inquire about fingerprinting: The AOD will not cover all first wave volunteers. For some parishes, we will cover up to 50 volunteers. For some, we will not be covering the cost of any volunteers. This is based on the financial needs of the parish in light of limited funding for the project. Funding will only be able to support about 5,000 total volunteers in the diocese. Please be mindful of this as you are making inquiries. If you are thinking about having us come out to your parish and you do not have a large staff, please consider asking other parishes within your Family to come to your site. The more people we can capture at one location, the quicker we can make it to other sites. This initiative should be concluded by May 2027. The maximum number of people one person can fingerprint in a day is 60. Please be sure to always include an hour break for the individual coming to fingerprint if he/she is there for the entire day. If you have an employee who is not comfortable with fingerprinting, please have him/her email us to schedule a time to talk. We want to ensure that these conversations are funneled appropriately. Finally, for ease I have created a Bookings calendar where you can schedule fingerprinting HERE   VIRTUS Users Can Now Register for an In-Person GPC in Their Account VIRTUS users can now sign themselves up for an in-person PGC. All they have to do is the following: Login to their VIRTUS account Go to the "Current Training" bubble Select the "Register for Training" Option Select the training they would like to take Scroll to the bottom and press update Click HERE & HERE for reference   Reporting Abuse in Parish Bulletins and School Boards As part of our safeguarding of children and vulnerable populations, we kindly require all parishes and schools to regularly publish in their bulletin and school board materials either the report abuse insert OR longer form abuse reporting guide (see below) Report Abuse Bulletin Insert Report Abuse Bulletin Graphic\\    Empowering God’s Children Webpage Is Live The Empowering God's Children webpage is LIVE. This webpage is designed to have all resources located in one area and to give you the ability to share this with your parents. The Spanish version of this website will be available in the upcoming week.   Please note: Your parish and/or school may only teach lessons 1&2 or 3&4. All Submissions for Empowering God’s Children need to be recorded in VIRTUS by March 31, 2027. New videos for Empowering God’s Children will be available August 15, 2026.   Requesting Transfers in VIRTUS VIRTUS now has a link: VIRTUS® Online that gives you the ability to request a transfer from another diocese to the Archdiocese of Detroit. Local Administrators may complete the request or pass it along to the user.   Please note: In the "additional notes" section, if you could provide the role and the location of the parish, it will assist VIRTUS in identifying which parish the user is associated with.   Mandated Reporter Training Now Available in VIRTUS Attached is a memo about the Mandated Reporter Training that has been assigned to all of those with an "Educator" and "Priest" role in VIRTUS.   ALL MANDATED REPORTER TRAINING FOR PRIESTS AND SCHOOL AFFILIATED EMPLOYEES IS DUE BY OCTOBER 1, 2026. PLEASE SEND OUT REMINDERS.   If your school uses another form of training, and you would like to opt-out of the training, please email me at pierson.maegan@aod.org.   The training will be assigned in VIRTUS on an annual basis and will include updates as needed. Local Administrators will also be able to assign the training to others by going to the Training tab of the user in VIRTUS, and clicking on, "Assign new Online Training to User" from there you will find the training under "Mandated Reporter Training - Archdiocese of Detroit"   Finally, if you need to run a report to see who has completed the training, you may do so by going to "Master Reports" >>Select your Location >> Roles = Educators >> All Profiles >> All Training Statuses >>User Field = First Name / Last Name / Database ID >> Training = Mandated Reporter Training - Archdiocese of Detroit and then you can run the report to see who has completed it.     Upcoming PGC Dates September 12 \| Christ the King, Detroit September 14 \| Online September 15 \| Gesu Parish, Detroit September 19 \| St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Dearborn September 22 \| St. Rene Goupil, Sterling Heights September 23 \| St. Fabian, Farmington Hills September 24 \| Online September 30 \| Online October 7 \| Online October 10 \| St. Joseph, South Lyon October 10 \| Sacred Heart, Imlay City (English and Spanish sessions) October 12 \| Online October 13 \| Immaculate Conception, Ira Township October 17 \| Our Lady of Victory, Northville October 22 \| Online October 26 \| Online November 3 \| Online November 7 \| St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Troy November 16 \| Online December 3 \| Online God bless you all,   Maegan Pierson Safe Environment Manager RESOURCES Background Check Determination Letter Template Fair Credit Reporting Act Empowering God’s Children Opt-Out Form Empowering God’s Children Opt-Out Form (Spanish) Teaching Boundaries and Safety Guide Teaching Boundaries and Safety Guide (Spanish) Record Retention Policy Newsletter Archives Subscribe to our newsletter Archdiocese of Detroit, 12 State St, Detroit, Michigan 48226, United States, 313-237-5800 Unsubscribe Manage preferences |
| --- |