Volunteer Clearances and Criminal History Poliicy

CLEARANCES We aspire to foster a relational environment that provides physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual safety for the vulnerable guests and neighbors we serve. To do this well in broken world, we would be wise to use the tools we have to discern which volunteer applicants to invite into our ministry community.

Volunteers for all areas of ministry are required to fill out an application, sign a liability waiver (or have a parent sign a minor liability waiver), and complete our new volunteer Encounter Session. However, there are some areas of ministry that require a more extensive vetting process to determine if an applicant could be a good fit for service.

Pennsylvania Law PA law requires volunteers who are 14 or older and have direct contact with children to obtain three clearances before they can start volunteering: Child Abuse History Certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Federal Background Check - OR - FBI Affidavit of Compliance for those who have lived in PA for at least 10 years Due to the vulnerable populations we serve, Water Street also requires these background clearances for volunteers who will work directly with our adult guests, have exposure to sensitive information, and/or may need unaccompanied access to specific areas of campus.

When are volunteers not required to submit clearances?

Generally speaking, the Volunteer Ministries Office will not request clearances... ...for a 1x event where a staff member is in the immediate vicinity of the volunteer (i.e., June Bug Jamboree, group cleaning project, party, etc.) ...from volunteers in the Dining Hall or Outreach (where staff and multiple volunteers are present) However, the Volunteer Ministries Office will require that their waiver is signed and submitted in advance of the volunteer event. This gives Water Street Mission full consent and permission to obtain information regarding criminal history and other applicable records.

With these volunteer applicants, the Volunteer Ministries Office will check both the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History and the National Sex Offender Public Website.

How Do I Know Which Clearances a Volunteer Will Need?

Volunteering in the Dining Hall,

Volunteering in a role that has direct and/or regular interaction with guests,

Outreach or Warehouse, for a 1x

children, sensitive information and/or needs unaccompanied access to areas of

Event, or Group Opportunity

campus (i.e., presence ministry, outside educators, donation processing, etc.)

WSM Volunteer Waiver

WSM Volunteer Waiver

Name

Name

Address

Address

Phone Number

Phone Number

Email Address

Email Address PA Child Abuse History Certification

This waiver gives the WSM Volunteer Ministries Office consent to obtain information relating to the volunteer’s criminal history and applicable records.

Federal Background Check (Fingerprinting) OR

(vols. who have lived outside of PA over the last 10 years) FBI Affidavit of Compliance (vols. who have lived in PA over the last 10 years)

When is someone disqualified from volunteering?

PA Act 153 aims to protect children by requiring comprehensive background checks for individuals 14 years and older who interact with minors in both paid and volunteer roles. While this Act is specific to educational settings, Water Street Mission holds the same clearance standards for those volunteering directly with any adult guest.

According to Clearance Act 153, Sec. 6344(c)a volunteer is disqualified from service if convicted of an offense similar in nature to those crimes listed in Sec. 6344(c) in any state or country in the world. The crimes identified in 6344(c) include: Chapter 25 (relating to criminal homicide).

Section 3124.1 (relating to sexual assault).

Section 2702 (relating to aggravated assault).

Section 3125 (relating to aggravated indecent assault).

Section 2709.1 (relating to stalking).

Section 3126 (relating to indecent assault).

Section 2901 (relating to kidnapping).

Section 3127 (relating to indecent exposure).

Section 2902 (relating to unlawful restraint).

Section 4302 (relating to incest).

Section 3121 (relating to rape).

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Section 3122.1 (relating to statutory sexual assault).

Section 3123 (relating to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse).

Disqualifying Crimes identified in 6344(c) Continued...

Section 4303 (relating to concealing death of child).

Section 4304 (relating to endangering welfare of children).

Section 4305 (relating to dealing in infant children).

A felony offense under section 5902(b) (relating to prostitution and related offenses).

Section 5903(c) or (d) (relating to obscene and other sexual materials and performances).

Section 6301 (relating to corruption of minors).

Section 6312 (relating to sexual abuse of children).

The attempt, solicitation or conspiracy to commit any of the above listed offenses.

If a Volunteer’s Criminal Status Changes As written in the WSM volunteer waiver: If a volunteer is arrested or convicted of an offense that would constitute grounds for denial of volunteer work, or named as a perpetrator in a found or indicated report of abuse, they are required to notify WSM in writing within 72 hours.

Volunteer Background Clearance FAQs How often do clearances need to be renewed?

Volunteer clearances are good for 60 months (5 years).

How much do clearances cost?

FREE

(once every 57 months)

FREE $22.95*

Child Abuse History Certification from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check from the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Federal Background Check (Fingerprinting)

Will Water Street reimburse volunteers for this cost?

Yes: Volunteers who wish to be reimbursed for their clearances may submit a receipt to the Volunteer Ministries Office for reimbursement.

Clearance Resource List WSM Volunteer Waiver (Adult) WSM Volunteer Waiver (Minor) Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check PA Child Abuse History Certification Federal Background Check FBI Affidavit of Compliance National Sex Offender Public Website

CONNECT WITH US Volunteer Ministries Office 2nd Floor Seiber Hall 717-358-2079 volunteer@wsm.org