We will listen to your needs and support you. We will help you make a formal complaint and arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his delegate. We encourage you to come forward and speak out.

When you call to make a report, please remember:

• Your report is a request for an investigation, not an accusation.
• You should report EACH incident of suspected abuse so it may be investigated.

Once the report is made to the proper authorities, it is recommended the immediate supervisor/Pastor be informed by the person making the report. If support is needed, the immediate supervisor/Pastor may be notified.

Please follow all applicable civil laws for reporting instances of suspected child abuse. Click here to see a summary of these laws for Louisiana.

The initial report may be verbal, and should contain the following information, if known:

• Name, address, age, sex and race of the child
• Nature, extent and cause of child’s injuries or endangered condition, including any previous known or suspected abuse to the child or child’s siblings
• Name and address of parent(s) or caretaker
• Names and ages of all other members of child’s household
• Name and address of the reporter
• Account of how child came to reporter’s attention
• Explanation of the cause of child’s injury or condition offered by child, the caretaker or any other person
• Any other information which the reporter believes might be important or relevant.

ONLINE VIRTUS Training Sessions:

The Diocese requires mandatory participation in the VIRTUS® sexual abuse awareness program for clergy, employees and commissioned volunteers.

NEW ONLINE VIRTUS TRAINING INSTRUCTIONS:

• To register for VIRTUS go to virtus.org

• Select “First Time Registrant.” You will create a user ID and a password. This establishes your account with the VIRTUS website.
• Provide all the information requested. Note: Do not click the back button or your registration will be lost.
• When choosing a PRIMARY location within the Diocese of Alexandria, please make sure your selection aligns with the church or school where you work or volunteer. Then you may choose one or more secondary locations in which you volunteer. Please note, you can have several locations, but only ONE primary location. For example, if you are a volunteer for Steubenville South Youth Conference, your primary location would be the St. Joseph Catholic Center, your secondary would be Steubenville South.
• Select the role(s) you serve.
  Volunteer (examples would be CCD teacher or field trip chaperone.)
  Employee (which means you are employed at one of our churches or Catholic schools but you are NOT a teacher)
  Educator (which means you are employed to teach in one of our Catholic schools) 
  Priest, Deacon, Deacon Candidate for Seminarian.
• VOLUNTEERS and EMPLOYEES who are not  working at a Catholic school in the diocese will be prompted to complete a confidential ONLINE Background Check. This background check is completed through your private VIRTUS account and submitted through a website called Selection.com. All background check results are then sent to the Diocese of Alexandria Safe Environment office for review.

  Please proceed by clicking on “Begin your Selection.com Background Check.” Follow the instructions on the screen. This will take you to the  FASTRAX® section. Then click on “Enter Background Check Info” to proceed.

  Please complete the following steps within the background check process, which include reviewing the inquiry release, entering applicant information, a final review, and the submission of the background check.

   

  NOTE: If you have any issues while completing the form, contact FASTRAX® support through the Selection.com help desk at 800-325-3609.

• After the Background Check is completed and submitted, your Online VIRTUS Training will be accessible on your VIRTUS.org account.
• To begin VIRTUS Online Training, on your VIRTUS HOME screen, click “You have 1 online module assigned,” then click the green circle to start training.
• Once the online VIRTUS training has begun, you will have 48 hours to complete it.
• The training is approximately 90 minutes long.
• CATHOLIC SCHOOL EMPLOYEES within the Diocese of Alexandria will be prompted to make an IN-PERSON Fingerprint and Background check appointment.

• Follow the instructions for setting up your appointment to be fingerprinted/background checked.

  To schedule your fingerprint/background check appointment, please go to https://uenroll.identogo.com and:

  Enter Service Number: 27N4Q4.

  Choose “Schedule/Manage Appointment.”

  Enter your personal information then the ORI Agency Number: LAAWA7000

  Direct your questions about this process to your employer/potential employer, or Kecia Coco, Director of Safe Environment, Diocese of Alexandria, (318) 445-6424 ext. 213.

  Don’t have access to the internet? You can also schedule an appointment by calling 844-539-5543.

  (Let your school know the date you are scheduled to be Fingerprinted/Background Checked)

  VIRTUS Training will be sent immediately to your account for completion. 

  To begin VIRTUS Online Training, on your HOME screen, click “You have 1 online module assigned,” then click the green circle to start training.

  Once the online VIRTUS training has begun, you will have 48 hours to complete it.

  The training is approximately 90 minutes long.

• If you have already have a VIRTUS.org account, login to it. If the required online background check is completed, your VIRTUS training will be assigned and ready to begin. Without the online background check, the VIRTUS training will not be assigned.
• To begin online VIRTUS Training, on your HOME screen, click “You have 1 online module assigned,” then click the green circle to start training.
• Once the online VIRTUS training has begun, you will have 48 hours to complete it.
• The training is approximately 90 minutes long.
• Once you are VIRTUS compliant, you will receive a monthly bulletin to complete by the 10^th of each month. These bulletins contain valuable updates and information and must be completed in a timely manner in order to remain VIRTUS certified to volunteer or work with our children.

If you have additional questions about VIRTUS Online Training, please contact the VIRTUS Help Desk at 1-888-847-8870, or contact Kecia Coco at 318-445-6424, Ext. 213.

The Office of Safe Environment oversees the implementation of the diocesan program, “A Safe Environment for the Protection of Children and Young People.”  The office provides education resources for children, clergy, religious, and laity (employees and volunteers) in the prevention of and recognition of child abuse. This office is also responsible for processing criminal history checks on all clergy, religious, and laity who have contact with minors.