The Diocese of Columbus has recently updated its Safe Environment policies. The following updates involve all Immaculate Conception School and Parish volunteers over the age of 18, who work with minors.
- All volunteers who have lived in the state of Ohio for 5 years or more, must have a current BCI background check and have completed VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children training.
- All volunteers who have lived in Ohio for less than 5 years, need to complete an FBI and BCI as well as have completed VIRTUS Protecting God’s Children training.
- This policy update requires all volunteers to renew their BCI fingerprints every five years thereafter.
- All background checks including FBI and BCI need to be sent directly to the State of Ohio and to the Diocese of Columbus Safe Environment Office.
In accordance with Bishop Fernandes’ guidelines, this policy will take full effect on January 1, 2026. If your BCI was last completed prior to January 2021 you will need to obtain a new background check. Please note that no one may begin volunteering within the Diocese of Columbus until all Safe Environment requirements are complete and documented in VIRTUS. To check the status of your BCI background check and ensure it is compliant, log into VIRTUS.
Please visit the webpage: columbuscatholic.org/safe for Fast Fingerprints information, their ORC codes/forms for background checks, and additional background check locations throughout the greater Columbus area.
Thank you for your gifts of time and talent, and for your care for our children.