VIRTUS/Safe Environment
St Joseph Catholic Church & School, along with the Diocese of Charleston, carefully protects children at our parish and school by every means possible.
Children are created by God and entrusted, from the first moment of conception, to the protection of their earthly parents. It is an obligation of parenthood to ensure that children are acting in a safe environment and to prepare them to be responsible for themselves. The church seeks to assist parents in this responsibility by making our campus as safe as possible and by educating adults and children.
For Adults
Attendance at a VIRTUS training session is required for all volunteers who interact with children (through the parish or the school). VIRTUS teaches adults how to create a safe environment for our children, and it is strongly encouraged by the Diocese that all adults, even those not regularly helping with the school, the Religious Education program, or the youth groups, attend. Each volunteer must also agree to a background screening which will be conducted by the Diocese of Charleston.
All parishioners are encouraged to attend a VIRTUS training session. You can find out more about VIRTUS by logging on to http://www.virtus.org/virtus/ or by contacting Shana Upham in the parish office.
For Children
The Touching Safety Program is presented to all youth who are active in our School, our Religious Education Program, or our Youth Groups. To learn more about the Touching Safety Program for children, parents and guardians are encouraged to look through the following materials:
Overview of the Program
Adult Guide
Lesson Plan for Grades k-2
Lesson Plan for Grades 3-5
Lesson Plan for Grades 6-8
Lesson Plan for Grades 9-12
You may also go to http://www.virtus.org/virtus/touchingsafetyprogram.cfm