Volunteer Clearances and Criminal History Poliicy

CLEARANCES

Weaspiretofosterarelationalenvironmentthatprovidesphysical,mental,emotional,andspiritual safetyforthevulnerableguestsandneighborsweserve.Todothiswellinbrokenworld,wewouldbe wisetousethetoolswehavetodiscernwhichvolunteerapplicantstoinviteintoourministry community.

Volunteersforallareasofministryarerequiredtofilloutanapplication,signaliabilitywaiver (orhaveaparentsignaminorliabilitywaiver),andcompleteournewvolunteerEncounter Session.However,therearesomeareasofministrythatrequireamoreextensivevetting processtodetermineifanapplicantcouldbeagoodfitforservice.

PennsylvaniaLaw

PAlawrequiresvolunteerswhoare14orolderandhavedirectcontactwithchildrentoobtainthree clearancesbeforetheycanstartvolunteering:

ChildAbuseHistoryCertificationfromthePennsylvaniaDepartmentofHumanServices

PennsylvaniaCriminalBackgroundCheckfromthePennsylvaniaStatePolice(PSP)

FederalBackgroundCheck-OR-FBIAffidavitofComplianceforthosewhohavelivedinPAforatleast10years

Duetothevulnerablepopulationsweserve,WaterStreetalsorequiresthesebackgroundclearances forvolunteerswhowillworkdirectlywithouradultguests,haveexposuretosensitiveinformation, and/ormayneedunaccompaniedaccesstospecificareasofcampus.

Whenarevolunteersnotrequiredtosubmitclearances?

Generallyspeaking,theVolunteerMinistriesOfficewillnotrequestclearances...

...fora1xeventwhereastaffmemberisintheimmediatevicinityofthevolunteer(i.e.,JuneBugJamboree, groupcleaningproject,party,etc.)

...fromvolunteersintheDiningHallorOutreach(wherestaffandmultiplevolunteersarepresent)

However,theVolunteerMinistriesOfficewillrequirethattheirwaiverissignedandsubmittedinadvance ofthevolunteerevent.ThisgivesWaterStreetMissionfullconsentandpermissiontoobtaininformation regardingcriminalhistoryandotherapplicablerecords.

Withthesevolunteerapplicants,theVolunteerMinistriesOfficewillcheckboththe PennsylvaniaAccesstoCriminalHistoryandtheNationalSexOffenderPublicWebsite.

HowDoIKnowWhichClearancesaVolunteerWillNeed?

VolunteeringintheDiningHall, OutreachorWarehouse,fora1x

Event,orGroupOpportunity

WSMVolunteerWaiver

Name

Address

PhoneNumber

EmailAddress

Thiswaivergivesthe WSM VolunteerMinistriesOfficeconsent toobtaininformationrelatingto thevolunteer’scriminalhistory andapplicablerecords.

Volunteeringinarolethathasdirectand/orregularinteractionwithguests, children,sensitiveinformationand/orneedsunaccompaniedaccesstoareasof campus(i.e.,presenceministry,outsideeducators,donationprocessing,etc.)

WSMVolunteerWaiver

EmailAddress

PAChildAbuseHistoryCertification

FederalBackgroundCheck(Fingerprinting) (vols.whohavelivedoutsideofPAoverthelast10years) OR

FBIAffidavitofCompliance (vols.whohavelivedinPAoverthelast10years)

Whenissomeonedisqualifiedfromvolunteering?

PAAct153aimstoprotectchildrenbyrequiringcomprehensivebackgroundchecksforindividuals14yearsand olderwhointeractwithminorsinbothpaidandvolunteerroles.WhilethisActisspecifictoeducationalsettings, WaterStreetMissionholdsthesameclearancestandardsforthosevolunteeringdirectlywithanyadultguest.

AccordingtoClearanceAct153,Sec.6344(c)avolunteerisdisqualifiedfromserviceifconvictedofanoffense similarinnaturetothosecrimeslistedinSec.6344(c)inanystateorcountryintheworld.Thecrimesidentified in6344(c)include:

Chapter25(relatingtocriminalhomicide).

Section2702(relatingtoaggravatedassault).

Section2709.1(relatingtostalking).

Section2901(relatingtokidnapping).

Section2902(relatingtounlawfulrestraint).

Section3121(relatingtorape).

Section3122.1(relatingtostatutorysexualassault).

Section3124.1(relatingtosexualassault).

Section3125(relatingtoaggravatedindecentassault).

Section3126(relatingtoindecentassault).

Section3127(relatingtoindecentexposure).

Section4302(relatingtoincest).

Listcontinuesonnextpage...

Section3123(relatingtoinvoluntarydeviatesexualintercourse).

DisqualifyingCrimesidentifiedin6344(c)Continued...

Section4303(relatingtoconcealingdeathofchild).

Section4304(relatingtoendangeringwelfareofchildren).

Section4305(relatingtodealingininfantchildren).

Afelonyoffenseundersection5902(b)(relatingtoprostitutionandrelatedoffenses).

Section5903(c)or(d)(relatingtoobsceneandothersexualmaterialsandperformances).

Section6301(relatingtocorruptionofminors).

Section6312(relatingtosexualabuseofchildren).

Theattempt,solicitationorconspiracytocommitanyoftheabovelistedoffenses.

IfaVolunteer’sCriminalStatusChanges

AswrittenintheWSMvolunteerwaiver:Ifavolunteerisarrestedorconvictedofanoffense thatwouldconstitutegroundsfordenialofvolunteerwork,ornamedasaperpetratorina foundorindicatedreportofabuse,theyarerequiredtonotifyWSMinwritingwithin72hours.

VolunteerBackgroundClearanceFAQs

Howoftendoclearancesneedtoberenewed?

Volunteerclearancesaregoodfor60months(5years).

Howmuchdoclearancescost?

(onceevery57months)

ChildAbuseHistoryCertificationfromthePennsylvaniaDepartmentofHumanServices

$22.95*

PennsylvaniaCriminalBackgroundCheckfromthePennsylvaniaStatePolice(PSP)

FederalBackgroundCheck(Fingerprinting)

WillWaterStreetreimbursevolunteersforthiscost?

Yes:Volunteerswhowishtobereimbursedfortheirclearancesmaysubmitareceipt totheVolunteerMinistriesOfficeforreimbursement.

ClearanceResourceList

WSMVolunteerWaiver(Adult)

WSMVolunteerWaiver(Minor)

PennsylvaniaCriminalBackgroundCheck

PAChildAbuseHistoryCertification FederalBackgroundCheck

FBIAffidavitofCompliance

NationalSexOffenderPublicWebsite