Safe Environment Training

Click below for information on reporting sexual abuse.

Haga clic a continuación para obtener información sobre denuncias de abuso sexual.

Reporting Sexual Abuse

Welcome and thank you for working and/or volunteering with an organization in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville.

Effective July 1, 2020, the Diocese of Knoxville has implemented the CMG Connect platform to administer the Safe Environment Program, which replaces the former Safe Environment Program (VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children).

CMG connect is a web-based platform that assists us to ensure that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within our schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context.

“Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three part video which provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse.  Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding.

Education is a key element of the Safe Environment program. All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, volunteers, members of groups, and organizations over the age of 18, who work, volunteer or participate in any capacity are required to complete the Diocesan Safe Environment Training and a criminal background check before they may begin employment, volunteer, or participate with ministries, groups, and organizations.

In addition, the mandatory renewal training must be completed every 5 years and a new background check submitted before the 5 year expiration of prior training. The Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment compliance training and renewal training is a condition of employment and for volunteer ministry in the Diocese of Knoxville.

The CMG Connect platform contains all three elements of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program:

1. Review of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Policy and Procedures Relating to Sexual Misconduct to be completed every 5 years
2. CMG Connect Safe Haven training program to be completed every 5 years
3. Criminal Background Check to be completed every 5 years

In compliance with the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program, all affiliates require that volunteers and employees complete the following requirements prior to working and/or volunteering in a parish, school, The Paraclete or through Catholic Charities and/or St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic.

If you are an existing user, please sign in.  Do not create a new account.  If you do not remember your username/password, please use “Forgot Username/Forgot Password” or the blue Support button to recover your information.

Please see the instructions below prior to creating your account on CMG Connect.

• If you are an employee with no financial responsibilities, i.e. you don’t use your entity’s credit card, deal with offertory, banking, etc. please click Employee with no financial responsibilities
• If you are an employee with financial responsibilities, priest, deacon or religious, please click Employee with financial responsibilities/Priest/Deacon/Religious
• If you are a volunteer with no financial responsibilities i.e. you don’t use your entity’s credit card, deal with offertory, banking, etc. please click Volunteer with no financial responsibilities
• If you are a volunteer with financial responsibilities, i.e. money counter, bookkeeper, use your entity’s credit card, etc. please click Financial Volunteer (Money counter, Bookkeeper, etc.)

Frequently Asked Questions