The Office of Minor and At-Risk Adult Protection is responsible for the compliance, management, operation, and maintenance of the Archdiocese of Denver’s Safe Environment Programs and for implementation and evaluation of all requirements of the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People (“the Charter”) of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) and the Archdiocese of Denver’s Code of Conduct (“the Code”).

Our Team

Christi Sullivan

Director, Office of Child and Youth Protection
christi.sullivan@archden.org
303.715.3241

Alex Kwan

Safe Environment Coordinator
Se habla español
alex.kwan@archden.org
303.715.2085

What is Safe Environment Training?

Safe Environment training is the combination of education for children, youth and adults in ways to recognize grooming behaviors and sexual abuse and how to respond.

Who needs to be Safe Environment compliant (including the timeline of when it needs to be accomplished for a new hire/new volunteer)

    • All employees, excluding Colorado licensed schoolteachers (Colorado process a background screening every 5 years when teachers’ licenses are renewed) must submit for and have an approved background check, prior to a final offer of employment. Those positions that involve financial management should also include a credit report review.
    • School employees and teachers must complete safe environment training prior to working with children or youth.
    • All other employees have 90-days to complete safe environment training.
    • All employees are required to read and sign Archdiocese of Denver Code of Conduct Code. This should be completed after a conditional job offer has been made.
    • All volunteers with children and youth (DRE’s, catechists, youth ministers, Sacristans, etc.) are required to complete safe environment training, submit to a background check, read and sign the Archdiocese of Denver Code of Conduct (this is completed in the VIRTUS system at time of registration for the safe environment class), prior to volunteering with children or youth.
    • After the initial live training, refresher training can be done online, every 5 years. Only refresher training can be done online.
    • All children and youth in all religious education programs (schools and parishes) are required to receive safe environment training at least once a year.
    • The current Safe Environment refresher for the AoD is “Vulnerable Adults” – It is an online module.
    • This VIRTUS module is a good way to formally introduce the topic and at the same time refresh our commitment to keeping all of the most vulnerable safe from harm.
    • Our Code of Conduct requires that church workers (employees and volunteers) be mandated reporters for at-risk-adult and elder abuse and neglect for the Archdiocese, as well as child abuse and neglect.
Be Safe

Register for Safe Environment Training

Training Registration and Class List

How does a current volunteer/employee renew their Safe Environment training?

Site Administrators must first assign the refresher training module to the individual in the VIRTUS system and notify the user of how to log into their account.


Site Administrator Information

Site Administrator FAQs

Site Administrator Guide to VIRTUS

Annual Reporting Forms

Annual reporting forms with the pastor’s signature are due to the Office of Minor at At-Risk Adult Protection on February 28, 2022. 

Form A (DRE) – Reporting form for religious education students participation in safe environment. A separate report is made to the Office of Catholic Schools for school employees and volunteers.

Form For Directors of Religious Education

Form B (Business Manager) – Report on Safe Environment compliance (initial and refresher) of employees and volunteers with minors. A separate report is made to the Office of Catholic Schools for school employees and volunteers.

Form for Business ManagersReporting Form for Preschool Employees/Volunteers