New Background Check requirements for volunteers working with children

Posted by Pennsylvania Department of Human Services on April 13, 2015

New clearance requirements for adult volunteers responsible for the welfare of a child or having direct contact with children. The new clearance requirements go into effect July 1, 2015. From House Bill 435, amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, signed by Governor Tom Corbett on October 22, 2014.

The Department of Human Services (formerly DPW) will be creating a special web page for volunteers who meet the new clearance requirements. The new online clearance tools are scheduled to be available starting July 1, 2015. For questions related to the new clearance requirements for volunteers or the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance, please contact the ChildLine Verification Unit at 717-783-6211 or 1-877-371-5422.

New clearance requirements if the volunteer has been a resident of PA continuously for the past 10 years:
1) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check ($10)
 Scheduled to be added to epatch online system by July 1, 2015

2) ChildLine (Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance through the Department of Human Services) ($10)
 Scheduled to go online by July 1, 2015

3) Signed disclaimer affirming no charges in other states that would prohibit selection as a volunteer

New clearance requirements if the volunteer has NOT been a resident of PA continuously for the past 10 years:

1) Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check ($10)
 Scheduled to be added to epatch online system by July 1, 2015

2) ChildLine (Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance through the Department of Human Services) ($10)
 Scheduled to go online by July 1, 2015

3) FBI Criminal Background Check (fingerprint check) for federal criminal history records (Tentative $27.50 – it is anticipated that the fee for volunteers will likely be consistent with current DPW fees)
 Scheduled to be added to Cogent online registration/processing system by July 1, 2015

Read the Frequently Asked Questions for Volunteers here:

http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov/cs/groups/webcontent/documents/document/c_135249.pdf

Learn more at: http://keepkidssafe.pa.gov/