Volunteer
Share Your Talents with CJA!
If you have time to offer, we would love to find a volunteer opportunity that matches your interests and supports our school community.
Volunteer Opportunities
To begin volunteering at CJA, you will need to read and complete several documents and training sessions that are independent of your CJA-hosted orientation. Most of the requirements can be accessed on the Virtus website - a training platform sponsored by the National Catholic Risk Retention Group.
Virtus Forms and Training
Please visit the Virtus online website to create an account and access the needed forms and training sessions. From the Virtus website, please select "First Time Registrant" from the left side menu and then select "Begin the Registration Process". If you have previously registered with Virtus as a volunteer with another organization, please add Chicago Jesuit Academy as your primary location. After registering, you will be prompted to complete the items listed below.
- Protecting God’s Children Training – Sponsored by the Office for the Protection of Children and Youth, the purpose of this training is to promote and protect the dignity of children. All employees and volunteers who work with children are required to attend. In the past, this training was in-person at various locations throughout the Chicago area. Currently, it is being offered online as well. If you attended a “Protecting God’s Children” training session in the last 3 years, you are compliant with this requirement and will not be prompted to register for training. If you attended “Protecting God’s Children” training, but you completed your session more than 3 years ago, you will be prompted to take a refresher training course titled “Protecting God’s Children 4.0”.
- Mandated Reporter Training – You have 5 days from your volunteer start date to complete the training and will need to be re-certified every 3 years.
- Background Check(s) – All volunteers who work with students must complete an online background check. No one can begin to work or volunteer until this is complete and approved. You will be prompted to complete this background check as part of the Virtus registration process. You will receive a separate email with a second background check prompt after your start date.
- Standards of Behavior – Please carefully review the Standards of Behavior and electronically acknowledge.
After you finish the training and forms, please email Cate O’Meara at [email protected]. Please bring a printed copy of your CANTS22 form to volunteer orientation.
Working one-on-one with a student can make such a difference in their learning experience. There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing young people grow and learn as the year progresses and knowing you were a part of it!
Mary Claire Belton
CJA Volunteer
Volunteering at CJA involves receiving as well as giving – gifts of learning, listening and compassion flow in ALL directions. It is a great experience to be part of the CJA Community!
Amy Stearns
CJA Volunteer
