background checks on volunteers?

[MichelleinMaine]

Anyone involved with an "independent" volunteer organization that needs to do background checks to work with children? How does one even go about it?

Our church has always operated on the sort of "everyone knows everyone" approach to backgrounds. We have a form, but it's on the honor system whether anyone reports correctly. (And they have to put references, but of course they are picking who they offer up...) It's bothered me since I started working there a couple years ago and we recently found out a youth leader had a less than desirable incident in his past he'd not disclosed.

Our state has a service to check criminal records, but it's just within the state. It's also $31 per person and we have 30-50 people a year involved with Sunday school and youth group. There's some retention year to year, but that's a huge budget buster, esp in this economy.

Are there legitimate companies out there that serve non profits in this sort of thing? A bulk rate somehow? some other alternative we're not thinking of? I feel strongly we need to do this to protect our kids, but there's just next to nothing in the budget for it.

 

[TaraPA]

I don't know if there's a service that will do it for free for non-profits, but I know we only pay $10 per check. DH is the Safety Officer for our school district's youth sports programs, and he has to run the checks on anyone volunteering to coach or help the coaches.

 

[KirstenB]

Our church hasn't instituted this yet. But the school now has all volunteers get fingerprinted and a background check at the sheriff's ofc. I don't know how much that costs.

 

[Stacerita]

I was at a parent meeting for my DD's choral group, and to volunteer we needed to have background checks. We were told that we could do them free through the district.

 

[EPCOT66bye]

I'm a hospital volunteer director and we have started doing state criminal checks on all volunteers. You're right that you'll only get "good" reports from self provided references. Our state police only charge $16 per check since we are a non-profit, but in doing research there are many reasonably priced companys out there. Do a simple search on the internet for "background checks". You might also check out the professional organizations for youth camps. I can't remember the name but they had some good recommendations on their website. Good Luck!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Have you talked with your insurance company? We (church) do background checks through the company our insurance company has a connection to. They heavily encourage background checks on all volunteers/staff (for obvious reasons!) so they give us access to discounted background checks.

Your insurance company is the best place to start on this process. Your rep will have strong opinions on what checks they deem the most useful and what companies they feel are most reputable.

 

[honugirl]

We have to do them to ref hockey and I believe we get them free through the Washington State Patrol. We only have to do them once every 3 years as long as you stay in good standing with the organization. If you leave for a year, I believe you have to do it again.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

Check with your local Make-A-Wish. All the people have to undergo background checks and so forth.

they might be willing to give you some resources and assistance it setting up a program for your church.

or at least point you in the right direction.

http://www.wish.org/help?s_kwcid=make a wish|917760391

 

[ohiomom28]

Anyone involved with our football league must have a background check which they must pay for themselves. It's $20.

 

[RunningGirl]

Our church does them, and after finding out the hard way that you need to do more than a state-wide check, we do a national check. Save yourself a lot of heartache and do it that way.

 

[Frantasmic]

Depending on what state you are in, you might benefit from www.publicdata.com . It is more cost-effective.

I know that smaller organization's have difficulty with the money for background checks; however, I'm surprised the insurance the church had doesn't mandate these checks. It's cheaper than a million-dollar court case.

 

[ead79]

Our church runs background checks on anyone who wants to volunteer with children or the elderly. All volunteers must fill out a very extensive form, which includes their social security number so a background check can be run. They also provide references, which the church calls. I'm not sure about the cost, but it's a very large church (around 8000 members), so they feel it's necessary.

 

[karenos]

Both my children went to a cooperative nursery school - where there is always a parent in the classroom. A few years back, they implemented background checks and fingerprinting - I believe it was included in our tuition. We went through a state agency.

karen

 

[The Mystery Machine]

If you want to pay for background checks, you need to have people pay for it or put it in the budget as a priority item.

Maybe you could have people "donate" the money for getting background checks on your members?

I would also do a national check. Since you are starting this new, might as well do it right from the beginning.

 

[FoundMyPrince]

Anyone involved with an "independent" volunteer organization that needs to do background checks to work with children? How does one even go about it?

Our church has always operated on the sort of "everyone knows everyone" approach to backgrounds. We have a form, but it's on the honor system whether anyone reports correctly. (And they have to put references, but of course they are picking who they offer up...) It's bothered me since I started working there a couple years ago and we recently found out a youth leader had a less than desirable incident in his past he'd not disclosed.

Our state has a service to check criminal records, but it's just within the state. It's also $31 per person and we have 30-50 people a year involved with Sunday school and youth group. There's some retention year to year, but that's a huge budget buster, esp in this economy.

Are there legitimate companies out there that serve non profits in this sort of thing? A bulk rate somehow? some other alternative we're not thinking of? I feel strongly we need to do this to protect our kids, but there's just next to nothing in the budget for it.

You are right, this can be a big expense, but it's well worth it. Our church does a background check through our State Highway Patrol for $5. Everyone that works with children (birth - high school students) is supposed to have a background check completed before they work with kiddos.

We only began doing checks about 4 years ago. Before that it was the "everyone knows everyone" mentality. Believe me, not everyone knows everyone's business Some people in our church were rather against the change because they'd been at the church forever, but gradually they came around. We tried to explain to them that it wouldn't be fair to newer people to say they had to do it since they weren't at the church the first week of their life. So, it's an across the board background check for all volunteers (and staff) that works with children.

Also, check with your church's insurance company to see what they require. Some companies will require background checks for volunteers.