Promise to Protect, Pledge to Heal
The Office of Safe Environment ensures that children, young people and vulnerable individuals who worship, study or participate in activities throughout the Archdiocese of Atlanta can do so in the safest and most secure setting possible.
This department is responsible for implementing and overseeing the full archdiocesan compliance to the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People.
Our office also ensures safe environment compliance, which is required for all archdiocesan clergy, staff and volunteers within our locations that encounter children, young people and vulnerable individuals. This includes a background screening and VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children safe environment training.
Victims of abuse within and outside of our archdiocese can find support through the Office of Victim Assistance.
Safe Environment Compliance
Safe environment compliance is required for all clergy, archdiocesan staff and volunteers within the Archdiocese of Atlanta. This includes a background screening and attending VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children safe environment training.
VIRTUS training is offered year-round throughout the archdiocese. You can register online for the 3-hour live training at an archdiocesan location near you.
VIRTUS training must be renewed every five years. Two weeks prior to renewal, an online renewal module will be assigned to your VIRTUS account. You will receive an email regarding your renewal from system@virtus.org.
If you have already attended a live 3-hour training session in another diocese within the last five years, you will not be required to retake the session with the Archdiocese of Atlanta. To transfer your VIRTUS account from another diocese, contact VIRTUS at 888-847-8870 or helpdesk@virtus.org.
For questions regarding safe environment compliance, contact the Office of Safe Environment at ocyp@archatl.com or 404-920-7550.
Read Archbishop Hartmayer’s endorsement letter for VIRTUS.
Audit Results
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) requests all dioceses in the United States to undergo a data collection every year and in-person audit every three years to verify compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People. The Archdiocese of Atlanta has been in compliance every year since the inception of the audits.
For additional information about compliance audits, visit the USCCB Office of Child and Youth Protection.
For audit results for the Archdiocese of Atlanta from previous years, email ocyp@archatl.com.
