Background Checks
Posted by OMA Webmaster at 11/9/2007 5:20 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
Greetings all! Hey,this is great timing. I had a question for the collective wisdom of this group...which is WAY more than mine! In the Southwest, we need to start doing background checks on our counseling staff. All staff are volunteers for the two weeks of camp we run, probably a total of about 50 people. I'm not sure how is the best/most economical way to do that, how extensive we need to be, etc. Any suggestions? We have been doing disclosure and release forms, but not the actual background checks. Thanks! Hope all is well! Barb
Barb Doerrer-Peacock
Barb Doerrer-Peacock
We have been doing background checks for three summers. We use the United Way Volunteer Services center in Austin, TX which charges us $5.00 per name and if the person is married they will check both maiden and married names for the same $5.00. We had to do a training course and have established policies first for handling the results of the background check. We submit the data via email attachment and they email us back in 24 hours with the results. If we get a hit, then the those criminal records are mailed to us. This check uses the Texas Department of Public Safety and checks both arrests and convictions. Of course the down side is that it does not check anyone who has lived outside of the state. We rarely have this happen so it works for us. In addition to this check we also run our own Sex Offender Database check. My administrative assistant does this in our office. We also still have the self disclosure statements on our volunteer apps which is actually all the state requires. Hope this helps. I am a firm believer in the value of the background check.
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I feel like I'm still wearing two hats so I have two answers. Two weeks ago when I was at the Merom Conference Center we did paid background checks through Intellicorp for $10 each for all of our paid staff and new paid staff. We did selfdisclosure forms and a three references for each volunteer staff and some visitors (those that needed the freedom of moving about while unacompanied by a staff person). We also did the national check through the Department of Justice for everyone.
I can't emphasis enough that you also need to do an orientation for all your counselors on proper camper volunteer conduct and contact. More than anything else it is the fact that you and your site take this all very seriously that will keep the preditors in check. If they know that you AND all your staff and every volunteer is trained in what is appropriate and what is NOT appropriate and that they are ALL watching out for the safty of your campers - well, its your only hope. I make a point to tell our volunteers and paid staff that we have "made the call" to child and family services and we will make the call whenever it is nesesary to keep our campers safe and to keep our ministry alive.
(sorry for the bad spelling - I need to update firefox on my office laptop)
Here at Pilgram Point - where I have been for 12 days now - we are just starting to form a conference wide safe church policy. Elissa laid the groundwork before she left (Thank you Elissa) but we will be moving on from there. I'll keep you posted.
Dale
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We use a service at $19.99 each for the background checks. We do it before we let anyone in contact with campers. Our insurance carrier asks that we do it every two years for repeat employees or volunteer 18 years of age and older. Let me know if you need the name of the company.
Jim Doane
campadams@molalla.net
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