Safe Environment

All Adults wishing to Volunteer with Children/Youth or participate in Ministry at St. Angela Merici must be current with Safe Environment training.

Click here to register for an online training 

The CMGConnect online training replaces the former Safe Environment Program (VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children”) that was previously offered through our Archdiocese. Individuals are now required to complete all Safe Environment Training online. 

CMG connect is a new web-based platform that will assist us to ensure that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within our schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context.

“Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three part video which provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse.  Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding.

Education is the key element of the Safe Environment program. All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, and volunteers over the age of 18, who work in any capacity with or around children, the elderly, and adults with special needs are required to complete the Archdiocesan Safe Environment Online Training. All individuals listed above must submit to a criminal background check before they may begin employment or volunteer with ministries, groups, movements, and organizations.

In addition, all individuals listed above must complete the mandatory online refresher training upon the 5 year anniversary of the prior training and submit a new background check as a condition of continued ministry and/or continued employment in this Archdiocese.

PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED VIRTUS TRAINING

If you have completed VIRTUS training in the past 5 years, do not create a new account in CMGConnect. 

You will log-in with your previous personal user id from VIRTUS and enter the password 1234. Once you log into your CMGConnect account, you will be able to change your password. 

If you do not remember your VIRTUS user id or are unable to log-in, please contact your local Safe Environment Coordinator, Brenda Soileau at 832.654.0462 or Daphne Woods for log-in assistance at 800.228.6108 ext. 2375 or dwoods@catholicmutual.org.

NEW USERS (NEVER ATTENDED A TRAINING BEFORE) 

If you have never attended VIRTUS training in the past or never taken the Safe Haven online training, please register to create a new account via CMGConnect at https://GalvestonHouston.CMGConnect.org. 

IMPORTANT NOTES 

You will be required to complete a criminal background check as part of the registration process. Failure to complete the criminal background check in its entirety will delay the approval process for volunteer service. 

Please make sure you enter your legal name as it appears on your Government Issued Id (Driver’s License, State-issued Identification card, Passport, Matrícula Consular).

• The 5-year anniversary date is still in place, individuals who recently attended VIRTUS will not be due to complete refresher trainings until they have met their 5-year anniversary date. 

• As the 5-year anniversary date is met, individuals will need to log into CMGConnect with their previous personal VIRTUS user id and 1234 as the password. Once the individual logs into their CMGConnect account, they will be able to change their password. If they do not remember the user id, they may contact the following:

1.   Brenda Soileau at brendasoileau@gmail.com or 832.654.0462
2.      Daphne Woods at 800.228.6108 ext. 2375 or dwoods@catholicmutual.org 
3.      CMG atcmgconnect@catholicmutual.org
 
The following individuals below will now be required to complete Safe Haven online training as well:
 
1.      Individuals who have never attended training.
2.      Individuals who are currently due for refresher training and had not attended VIRTUS training.
3.      Individuals who are currently due and have not attended VIRTUS training.
4.      Individuals who are out of compliance or past due.