STAND

STAND Program

In order to assure quality pastoral care for our children and teens with safe environments characterized by healthy relationships, Saint Peter's requires all parish volunteers to comply with the STAND program initiated by the Archdiocese of Baltimore.  A compliance management system called, VIRTUS, is used by all parishes and schools in the Archdiocese.  All volunteers, whether they have contact with children and youth or not, need to be registered on this website.  If a volunteer does not have substantial contact with children or teens, he or she will be asked for a brief amount of personal information and then asked to read two policies and answer a few questions. Those volunteers who do have "substantial contact" with children or teens must submit additional personal information on the VIRTUS website, 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 the parish.

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Teen volunteers 14 through 17 years of age have a separate required program called Worthy of the Call (WOTC) which explores their role in ministry as well as explores their role in providing a safe environment for themselves as volunteers and the area in which they volunteer. This training is not yet available online.

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For information concerning STAND certification, contact the coordinator of your ministry or Theresa DiSipio, the parish office manager and STAND coordinator, in the church office @ 301-898-5111 x12.