Safe Environments

Safe Environments Requirements

Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish follows the Archdiocese of Detroit guidelines and is committed to providing safe environments and fostering continuous improvement in every organization that sponsors activities and/or provides services to children and youth.


FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DETROIT REGARDING SAFE ENVIRONMENTS: All priests, deacons, employees and volunteers who completed a Protecting God’s Children workshop prior to January 1, 2020, are required to update their certification by completing the Protecting God’s Children Online Awareness Session 4.0 with Vulnerable Adults Training 2.0. combined module. The module is online and self-paced and takes approximately two hours to complete.

Individuals may pause, save and resume their position in the training if they cannot complete it in one sitting. Updated certification must be completed by November 1, 2023. Those who have never completed Protecting God’s Children will need to take the initial certification program. Information is found on the aod.org website.

Additionally, all current Virtus account users will receive an email asking them to review and digitally sign the updated Codes of Conduct for clergy, employees, and volunteers and as well as the AOD Safe Environment Policies. No individual may be employed or permitted to volunteer at a parish or school in the AOD until a background check has been completed.

If you’ve not yet received an email from virtus.org, you may call them at 1-888-847-8870 or email, [email protected]. Ask them to send you the link for the updated training module. If you have any questions, please contact Janet Rost at 734-453-0326 ext 229. or email [email protected]. Thank you!

ADULT VOLUNTEERS

Adult volunteers (age 18 and older) who have contact with the youth, elderly or disabled are expected to complete each of the following requirements. All Safe Environments requirements must be met before an adult begins their volunteer or employment position at OLGC.

Please return the Background Check Authorization along with a copy of your driver’s license to: OLGC Parish Office, Attn: Janet Rost, 1062 Church St, Plymouth, MI 48170

Pastoral (Clergy and Employees) Code of ConductRead Volunteer Code of ConductRead Safe Environments PolicyComplete Background Check AuthorizationRegister for Protecting God's Children WorkshopProtecting God's Children Registration Instructions

TEEN VOLUNTEERS

Teen-aged volunteers (under age 18) and youth (under age 18) who are paid employees or receive a stipend for work in parishes, schools, and affiliated agencies must completed the following Safe Environment requirements. Volunteers under age 18 should be paired with an adult or another teen and regularly supervised by an adult.

Please return the Background Check Certification and a copy of the Called to Serve certificate to: OLGC Parish Office, Attn: Janet Rost, 1062 Church St, Plymouth, MI 48170.

Read Teen Volunteer PolicyRead Teen Code of ConductComplete Teen Background CertificationRegistration Instructions for Minors
TO REPORT ABUSE

To report abuse by clergy or church personnel, contact the Archdiocesan Victim Assistance Coordinator at (866) 343-8055. To report abuse by others at any time, contact government agencies through the department of Human Services (800) 942-4357.