“A statue stands in a shaded place
An angel girl with an upturned face
A name is written on a polished rock
A broken heart that the world forgot” 
― Martina Mcbride
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Hotline Call Number 800-932-0313. The ChildLine Intake Unit (800-932-0313) is available 24 hours to receive reports of suspected child abuse.
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.

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
  • Ministers are no longer excepted from mandatory reporting
  • The background check process is completely revised
  • Volunteers are now mandatory reporters during the pursuit of volunteer activities at UUCY (such as Sunday morning teaching)
  • There is now a more extensive list of offenses that disqualify an individual from working with children and youth
  • New background clearances and mandatory training requirements effective July 1, 2015
  • Current volunteers with a valid background clearance do not have to comply with the new law until Jun 30, 2016
Professional Resources
What is Child Abuse Under the Law? Abuse:
  1. Is Intentional, knowing, and/or reckless
  2. Can be physical, sexual, or neglectful
  3. Can be caused by either acting or failing to act
  4. Perpetrated by anyone 14 years or older
  5. Is otherwise extensively defined in law, click here

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
  • Obtained online from the PA State Police free for volunteers; $8.00 for all others
  • Results are returned immediately
#2 ChildLine Background Check Verification Clearance
  • Obtained online through the PA Dept of Public Welfare (aka Dept of Human Services) free for volunteers; $8.00 for all others
  • UUCY is contemplating obtaining a business account with the Dept so as to pay directly for this clearance check (this is not ready yet)
  • Results are not returned immediately--this could take some weeks--especially during peak times
#3 FBI Federal Criminal History
  • Obtained by submitting a full set of fingerprints to the PA State Police or authorized agent
  • Preregistration is required by calling (888) 439-2486 or online through COGENT website
  • If you preregister online, you will be asked for "agency." Use the Department of Human Services
Authorized Agent | The UPS Store
2159 WHITE ST STE 3
YORK, PA 17404
  • During normal store hours; bring your registration number with you
  • Cost is $27.50

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: 
  • The mandated reporter comes into contact with the child in the course of employment, occupation and practice of a profession or through a regularly scheduled program, activity or service
  • The mandated reporter is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child, or is affiliated with an agency, institution, organization, school, regularly established church or religious organization or other entity that is directly responsible for the care, supervision, guidance or training of the child
  • A person makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that an identifiable child is the victim of child abuse
  • An individual 14 years of age or older makes a specific disclosure to the mandated reporter that the individual has committed child abuse
Making a report
  • We have a duty to act to protect children. Make a report if there is reasonable cause; either call ChildLine or submit electronically
  • Hotline Call Number 800-932-0313. The ChildLine Intake Unit (800-932-0313) is available 24 hours to receive reports of suspected child abuse
  • Report submission may be made electronically through the Child Welfare Information Solution Portal
  • After making a report, the mandated reporter must tell the "person in charge" such as the LRED or minister, that you made a report
  • The "person in charge" is responsible for cooperating with any investigation and will also assist the mandated reporter
  • The identity of the person making the report is kept confidential with the exception of being released to law enforcement officials or the district attorney’s office. UUCY will keep reporters' identities in confidence

Online Training for Mandated Reporters
Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center

Who must take Mandatory Report Training?
Within 90 days of employment, UUCY ministers, religious educators, and paid nursery care staff are all required to obtain mandatory reporter training and to renew training every five years. Volunteer teachers are not required by law to take mandatory reporter training. However, the UUCY Lifespan Learning Committee (LLC) strongly believes the law was insufficient in not requiring this training for volunteers. Consequently, the LLC strongly recommends that all volunteer teachers take this training course.

The University of Pittsburg offers free online “Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse” training. After their training, you'll understand the new CPSL and learn to apply the law in specific situations. You'll meet the training requirements as established by Act 31 and Act 126. You can do this online, whenever and wherever your schedule allows. On completion, you will receive a certificate of training. Click here to start an online session.
  • Click Registration at the top of the page
  • Complete all of the required registration information
  • Keep a record copy of the login and password created for you
  • Click on Welcome and log in
  • Click on course rrca-0771: Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse
  • Complete the 3 hour training--it is not necessary to complete the training in one 3 hour session.
For the complete text of Act 31, click here.