NEW!! Gov. Wolf Waives Background Clearance Check Fees for Volunteers
FBI clearances for all employees and for volunteers who have not been a continuous resident of the commonwealth for the last 10 years are still required, but because these are administered by the federal government, current costs will continue to apply.
http://www.governor.pa.gov/Pages/Pressroom_details.aspx?newsid=1693#.VXiBlNpVikr
NEW!! Clearance Waiver/Extension. The state of PA very recently granted a waiver and extension to current volunteers with a current background check of some kind, until Jun 30, 2016 to comply with criminal history, child abuse, and FBI clearances. What that means to us is that any volunteers from this past church year are cleared to volunteer at UUCY without new clearances on file. Notwithstanding this waiver and extension, please pursue these clearance now, rather than wait until next summer.
FBI clearances for all employees and for volunteers who have not been a continuous resident of the commonwealth for the last 10 years are still required, but because these are administered by the federal government, current costs will continue to apply.
http://www.governor.pa.gov/Pages/Pressroom_details.aspx?newsid=1693#.VXiBlNpVikr
NEW!! Clearance Waiver/Extension. The state of PA very recently granted a waiver and extension to current volunteers with a current background check of some kind, until Jun 30, 2016 to comply with criminal history, child abuse, and FBI clearances. What that means to us is that any volunteers from this past church year are cleared to volunteer at UUCY without new clearances on file. Notwithstanding this waiver and extension, please pursue these clearance now, rather than wait until next summer.
PA Child Protective Services Law |
Direct any questions you may have about these requirements to the Lifespan Religious Education Director. |
PA Act 31 and Act 126 and Others
Recently, 23 pieces of legislation were enacted, changing how Pennsylvania responds to child abuse. These changes significantly impact the reporting, investigation, assessment, prosecution, and judicial handling of child abuse and neglect cases. 2014 Changes in the Law | Summary
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Professional Resources
What is Child Abuse Under the Law? Abuse:
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UUCY Policy | What You Must Do
To protect our children and youth, UUCY has a Children and Youth Protection Policy. As a condition of teaching in our program--
- You must read, agree to, and follow this policy
- You must complete a UUCY Volunteer Application, including PA required residency "swear and affirm" language
- You must obtain required background checks before teaching
- You must renew your background checks every 36 months (renewal requirement includes the Federal Criminal History, aka fingerprinting, too!)
- UUCY will reimburse the cost of these background checks at your request, or you may elect to absorb these costs
- Attend UUCY annual teacher training on recognizing child abuse and our responsibilities under our policy and PA law
PA Background Check Requirements
- UUCY paid employees "responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children who are under their care, supervision, guidance or control" must obtain all three of the following checks
- Unpaid volunteers need not obtain a FBI Criminal History Record if 1) they have lived in continuously in PA for the last 10 years and, 2) swear and affirm that they have not been convicted of any crime in another state, similar to the convictions that would disqualify a person in PA
- Applications in the peak request months of May-Aug take longer to process than at other times during the year
- Circumstances that disqualify someone from volunteering to work with our children are extensively defined, click here
- Show your clearance to the Lifespan Religious Education Director--copies will be made and kept on file at UUCY
- You "own" these background checks and they may be used by you in other circumstances when child abuse clearances are required--keep your originals!
- If anyone subject to the background certification requirements (i) is arrested for, or convicted of, a crime that would constitute grounds for denying employment or volunteer service, or (ii) is named as a perpetrator in a Founded or Indicated Report, you must provide written notice within 72 hours to the Lifespan Religious Education Director
#1 Criminal History Clearance
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#2 ChildLine Background Check Verification Clearance
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#3 FBI Federal Criminal History
2159 WHITE ST STE 3 YORK, PA 17404
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PA Mandatory Reporters and Reporting
Who is a mandatory reporter?
If you are paid staff or a volunteer in UUCY's regularly scheduled Religious Education Program--you are a mandatory reporter. How to recognize child abuse. Child abuse is not always obvious and many children are too young or too frightened to tell anyone what is happening to them. Children, especially younger, more vulnerable children, are often unaware that what is happening to them is abuse. Click here for an overview of recognizing signs of child abuse and neglect. When must a mandated reporter make a report? A mandated reporter must make a report of suspected child abuse if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is a victim of child abuse under any of the following circumstances:
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Making a report
Online Training for Mandated Reporters
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