The Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP), working within the borders of the Archdiocese of Seattle, deeply cherishes the bond of sacred trust between its members, volunteers, and staff and those whom we serve. As a Catholic lay organization, we acknowledge the inherent worth and dignity of every person as created in the image and likeness of God.
Safeguarding is the act of protecting from harm people who are vulnerable. It involves reducing and preventing risks of harm or abuse, and working to ensure that vulnerable individuals and communities are safe and empowered. Safeguarding involves recognizing the human rights of all persons and working to ensure that those rights are not violated.
To accomplish this, the 20 nonprofit SVDP corporations inside the borders of the Archdiocese of Seattle, led by the SVDP Archdiocesan Council of Seattle, have each adopted a Safeguarding policy and Code of Conduct, and implemented systems and tools which enable us to carry out screening and training independently of the Archdiocese of Seattle (as requested by the Archdiocese)
Our SVDP VIRTUS system is separate from the VIRTUS system used by the Archdiocese's Safe Environment Program for parishes (as requested by the Archdiocese).
Volunteering for both parish and SVDP? You may have two VIRTUS accounts.
Learn about more about Two VIRTUS Accounts.
Not part of a Catholic parish? You'll have just one VIRTUS account.
Video: How does our Safeguarding program work? (for SVDP Leadership or anyone who wants to know) (previously known as Safeguarding for Conference Leadership)
SVDP Safeguarding Administrators:
Find the administration guide, administrator tutorials, and sample forms on the Administration page.
Below you will find:
For each District Council, a Registration Guide to help its new members, volunteers, and staff register in our online VIRTUS system.
Helpful guides on How to Log into VIRTUS and How to Apply for a Background Check.