Child Protection Procedure
To assure quality pastoral care for our children, teens, and vulnerable adults, the Pastorate of St. Francis, St. Mary, Holy Family requires all adult parish volunteers (anyone over 18) to comply with the most current child protection training that is offered by the Archdiocese of Baltimore. The Archdiocese of Baltimore utilizes the VIRTUS system, along with over 90 other dioceses. Please note that all volunteers at the Pastorate are considered “substantial contact volunteers” and must read the code of conduct and statement of policy, give permission for a criminal background check, provide the names of 3 references (two personal and one professional), and take the required online training prior to volunteering in any capacity. The training and background screen are repeated every 5 years. All steps to the training and certification must be complete before volunteer service can begin. For information or questions about the training process please contact Kathy Hofer the Virtus Coordinator at khofer@hfccmd.org.
Adult Volunteers
To begin the process of training and screening, please contact Mrs. Kathy Hofer at: khofer@hfccmd.org. Be sure to indicate what ministry you are volunteering for.
Adult Volunteers WITHOUT substantial contact with children applies to:
Lectors and Martha Mary Volunteers.
Adult Volunteers WITH substantial contact with children applies to:
Greeters, Nursery Volunteers, Disciples in Training Volunteers, Cantors, Catechists, Assistants, Eucharistic Ministers, Cleaning Volunteers, Landscape Volunteers, etc.
The process for training and screen requires an individual to: create a VIRTUS online account, complete the online volunteer application, complete the online training, and provide 3 references. The references should include: one personal, family member or other personal, and one professional/civic.
If you took the training and were screened at another parish in the Archdiocese of Baltimore within the past 5 years, you can login to your existing VIRTUS account and ensure your "VIRTUS" account reflects Holy Family or St. Francis-St. Mary as a location where you volunteer. Then, provide a reference form with your name to the Screening Coordinator at that location and have them return it directly to us via email at info@hfccmd.org.
Volunteers ages 14 through 17
Volunteers ages 14 through 17 years of age who will be working with children, the process is different. Please contact Mrs. Kathy Hofer at: khofer@hfccmd.org. You will need to complete an application form and provide contact information for three references. A parent and the teen must both sign the application.
Reporting Abuse
We at the Pastorate of St. Francis, St. Mary, Holy Family comply with Maryland laws requiring reporting suspected child abuse to civil authorities. Under Maryland law, any person who has reason to believe a child has been subjected to abuse must report the suspected abuse to civil authorities (local law enforcement or the local Department of Social Services Child Protective Services), even if the potential victim is now over 18 years old and even in cases where the alleged perpetrator is deceased.
For more information about reporting suspected child abuse and neglect in Maryland, please visit the Maryland Department of Human Services website by clicking here or using the following link https://dhs.maryland.gov/child-protective-services/reporting-suspected-child-abuse-or-neglect/.
If someone associated with the Church, including clergy, employees, or volunteers of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, is suspected of abuse, then the suspected abuse must also be reported to the Archdiocese’s Office of Child and Youth Protection at 410-547-5348 or the Victims Assistance Line at 1-866-417-7469.
For more information, visit: https://www.archbalt.org/child-and-youth-protection/.