If you are volunteering with both your parish and SVDP,
OR you are a long-time Vincentian,
you have two VIRTUS accounts. One for the parish, one for SVDP.
Why? As of 2024, the Archdiocese of Seattle requires the parish and SVDP to manage their respective Safe Environment & Safeguarding requirements separately.
Your SVDP VIRTUS account tracks the same sort of things as your parish VIRTUS account, but it is a separate account.
Two separate VIRTUS accounts does create some duplication of effort.
You'll have to keep contact information up to date in both systems.
Each system will require its own background check. Yes, that means you'll do two. This is necessary for liability and privacy reasons.
Each system requires volunteers to take some online training. There is overlap between the training required by SVDP and the training required by the parish, but it is not 100% the same because the volunteer work is different.
Tip: If SVDP requests a training which you've already taken in your parish VIRTUS account, people in District Councils other than Seattle/King County can usually get credit.
Follow these easy step-by-step instructions. to retrieve your training certificate(s). Provide those to your SVDP Safeguarding Coordinator.
Both VIRTUS accounts will send you email, reminding you to renew background checks or training. Frequently asked questions:
Which account sent me this email? Look for the words "Society of St. Vincent de Paul" in the email. If you don't see them, the email is probably from your parish VIRTUS account.
Which User Id should I use? Log in with the User ID in the email. Don't let your browser auto-fill the field. Click here for step-by-step illustrated instructions.
Which VIRTUS account am I in? Once logged in, a blue background = SVDP. Green background = parish.
Tip: If you are no longer subject to any Safe Environment requirements in your parish, ask your parish office to "deactivate" your parish VIRTUS account. That will simplify your life.
Important note: Most people with two VIRTUS accounts cannot reset either password online via VIRTUS password reset. Request a manual password reset by emailing helpdesk@virtus.org or calling the VIRTUS Helpdesk at 1-888-847-8870. Be sure to tell them which account you want to reset.
VIRTUS Helpdesk operates M-F on Central Time.
Your local SVDP administrator can reset your SVDP password.