Online "Safer Spaces" Training
Volunteers and some employees can now fulfill their Safe Environment training requirement by viewing the Safer Spaces video online.
Please do not take the Safer Spaces online training class unless you have already submitted a background check form to the institution or program with which you will be working.
This process should take a total of about 45 minutes, and requires a bit of computer savvy. To take the class online, follow the instructions below.
Important Notes:
- To do this training class, you must be using either Internet Explorer or Firefox to access the Internet. You cannot take the class if you are using any other web browser (like Safari, Chrome or Opera).
- If you are using an Apple computer (like an iMac or MacBook or iPad), you cannot use the standard web browser that came with the computer (Safari) -- you must download Firefox to take the class (free download here).
- Clergy, school administrators and teachers, and directors of religious education must still take VIRTUS "Protecting God's Children" classes. To register, please click here.
Registration Instructions for Safer Spaces Online (we recommend that you print out these directions to make them easier to follow):
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Open your web browser and go to http://www.archnysafe.org/. Click enter to begin.
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If you are a new user, click “Create new account”. If you are a returning user, just log in as normal.
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Please complete all fields in the registration form that are marked with an asterisk. Then click “Create my new account”.
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Please note the instructions for creating a password.
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Important Notes on Registering
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When filling in your name, please use your actual legal name (the same name you put on the background check form), not nicknames or short names, such as “Jon” for “Jonathan.” This is necessary so that we can match your training record with your background check.
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Please be careful about what Program you choose. If you are working or volunteering in a parish school or a high school, please select the kind of school it is (e.g., "Elementary School"). If you are working with religious education classes (CCD), please choose "Religious Education". If you are working with a sports program, please choose "CYO Sports".
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Please be careful about what Position you choose. For example, please do not select "Teacher's Aide" unless you are an employee at a school. If you are a volunteer teaching or helping to teach religious education classes (CCD), please choose "Catechist" or "Catechist Aide", not "Teacher" or "Teacher's Aide".
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Once you have finished the registration process, go directly to the “My Courses” page, click on “Safer Spaces Online Course”.
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Click “Yes” to make the course available to you.
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Click the “Safer Spaces” link to take the course. You do not need to click “Enter”.
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Note: to view the training video, you may have to tell your web browser to allow "pop-ups" from www.archnysafe.org.
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This request for permission will usually appear in a small yellowish line at the top of your browser window. Please keep an eye out for it and grant the pop-up permission.
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Some computers have multiple pop-up blockers (e.g, in both the browser program and in the Google toolbar). You will have to give permission in each of these pop-up blockers.
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If you completely disable your pop-up blocker, be certain to turn it on again when you complete your session.
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To complete the course, you will have to download the course booklet (in pdf format), and you will also have to answer correctly a series of questions about the content of the training video.
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If you wish proof that you have completed the class, you should print out the final page, which says "Please Print", before pressing the "Submit" button.
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When you successfully complete the course, the Safe Environment Office will update your records in our database. Your school or program will receive proof of your completion of the course when they receive their next roster of personnel.
For Technical Problems
If you have technical problems with the online training class, please call us at 845-452-1171 Ext. 4218.
We would appreciate if you would make sure that you have followed all of the above instructions before calling us for technical help. The most common problems people encounter are solved by making sure you are using the correct web browser (Internet Explorer or Firefox only, and not Safari, Chrome or Opera), making sure all the pop-up blockers are turned off and that you are giving permission for a pop-up from www.archnysafe.org.
