Why Conduct Background Checks for Youth Sports Volunteers?

The safety of children should always be a top priority in youth sports activities. Background checks help identify volunteers who may pose a risk to children’s safety. Here are some reasons why conducting background checks for youth sports volunteers is crucial:

• Protect children from abuse and neglect: Background checks help identify volunteers with a history of abuse, neglect, or violent behavior toward children.
• Avoid liability issues: Failing to conduct background checks can result in legal liability if a volunteer with a known history of abusive or criminal behavior harms a child.
• Promote trust and confidence: Conducting background checks helps promote trust and confidence among parents and guardians who entrust their children’s safety to the volunteers.

Types of Background Checks

There are several types of background checks that youth sports organizations can conduct to screen volunteers effectively; choosing the right package is crucial. JDP offers a variety of packages to fit your needs and ensure the safety of young athletes. 

1. Rookie Package: Includes Social Security Number Verification and JDP National Criminal Records Search.
2. Pro Package:  Includes Social Security Number Verification, JDP National Criminal Records Search, and JDP National Sex Offender Registry.
3. All-Star Package: This package includes Social Security Number Verification, JDP National Criminal Records Search, JDP National Sex Offender Registry, and either a Statewide Repository Search or Single County Felony & Misdemeanor.
4. Hall of Fame Package: This package includes Social Security Number Verification, JDP National Criminal Records Search, JDP National Sex Offender Registry, and a Felony & Misdemeanor – 7-Year History (given and developed counties and names).

Conducting Effective Background Checks

Effective background checks involve more than just running a few searches on online databases. Here are some tips to help you conduct effective background checks:

1. Develop a screening policy: Develop a comprehensive screening policy outlining the types of checks you will conduct and the criteria for disqualifying volunteers.
2. Obtain written consent: Obtain written consent from volunteers before conducting background checks. The consent form should include a clear explanation of the checks that will be conducted and how the information will be used.
3. Use reliable screening partner: It’s important to choose a background screening partner that has experience in your industry, complies with relevant laws and regulations, and maintains high levels of accuracy and security. 
4. Review results carefully: Review the results of background checks carefully and thoroughly. Be cautious about disqualifying volunteers based on a single offense or conviction. Consider the nature of the offense, how long ago it occurred, and whether the volunteer has demonstrated rehabilitation and positive behavior since then.
5. Re-screen volunteers periodically: Conduct periodic background checks to ensure that volunteers continue to meet your organization’s screening criteria.

FAQs about Conducting Background Checks for Youth Sports Volunteers

1. Who should be screened? 
   1. All volunteers working with children in youth sports should be screened, including coaches, referees, team managers, and other support staff.
2. How often should you screen volunteers?
   1. It is recommended that volunteers undergo background screening on an annual basis. This ensures that any new criminal activity that may have occurred since the last screening is identified. While some organizations may conduct background checks less frequently, annual screenings are the best way to mitigate the risk of harm to the community and protect the organization’s reputation.
3. How can I ensure the background checks are accurate and thorough?
   1. Hire a professional background check company, such as JDP, to conduct the checks. They will ensure that the checks comply with all applicable laws and regulations and are thorough and accurate.

Disclaimer:

Information provided here is for educational and informational purposes only and should not constitute as legal advice. We recommend you contact your own legal counsel for any questions regarding your specific practices and compliance with applicable laws.

The post The Ultimate Guide to Background Checks for Youth Sports Volunteers appeared first on JDP.

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Need advice on volunteer background checks and screening?  Let us know – we’re here to help!

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First, present your organization as warm and approachable.
If your nonprofit has a human face, name and personality, it’ll make it that much easier for it to become a recognizable organization that people want to engage with. One way to accomplish this is to share stories of existing volunteers. This will help your current team of devotees feel appreciated, and encourage potential recruits to get involved.

Second, ask for help — in and beyond your immediate network.
It may seem that everyone in your circle knows you are a part of a nonprofit that could use an extra hand every now and then, but it isn’t always apparent. People are in their own little worlds, so you’ve got to do the obvious and ask for help. Start with your closest associates and extend a personalized invite. And from there, work to spread the word on a larger scale. Make sure your website has a section dedicated to prospective volunteers. Leverage social media to highlight volunteer activities and successes. Pitch stories to local news media about your organization and mention that you’re looking for volunteers. There’s no shortage of ways you can go about asking for the help you need.

Third, get specific with your request.
“Volunteer” isn’t a job description — it’s more an indicator of the kind of work that is expected. So instead of putting out a general call for volunteers, be clear about what you need done. Whether you need tour guides, home builders, tutors, or dog walkers, ask specifically for people willing to do the job that you need them to. And, also nod to any special skills that a volunteer may need in order to effectively help out.

Finally, drive home the benefits to the volunteer.
For those who enjoy giving back, volunteering comes with a number of intangible benefits. And it may serve your organization well if you reminded potential volunteers of the power of giving. Donating one’s time can help make a huge difference in the life of a person in need, gives people an opportunity to use their skills and talents for good, and creates a greater sense of community.

Does your organization need help screening volunteers?  Let us know – we can help!

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Interested in screening your volunteers? Let JDP help you get started!

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Be picky, and don’t apologize for it.

Although you may be offering a volunteer role, it should be made clear from the initial posting that not everyone will be accepted. Execute a traditional recruitment process that includes background checks, and be 100% open and transparent with candidates about how carefully your organization selects volunteers. That way, anyone who chooses to apply does so with full knowledge that they will be thoroughly screened.

Have candidates complete an application.

In addition to gathering basic identifying information including the candidate’s name, address and relevant experience, your application should ask for references and include a statement that gives your organization permission to execute a formal background check. In addition to the initial volunteer posting, the application is another opportunity to drive home your organization’s commitment to engaging only quality people.

Conduct interviews.

This is a pretty important step in the process. Interviews are your organization’s first opportunity to hear from the candidate firsthand about their skills and experience, and gauge whether or not they’ll be a good fit for your organization. Also, it’s a chance for you to set forth your own expectations for volunteers. Make sure to pay careful attention to any behavioral red flags, such as attitudes that could prove detrimental to vulnerable populations in your community.

Check their references.

It’s always good to get a second opinion on the candidate’s fitness for the available role in your organization. When contacting provided references, be sure to clearly describe the position the individual is interested in, and ask for specific examples of how the candidate has proven they can meet the demands of the role. And, don’t assume that just because the candidate provided the reference, the individual will speak highly of them. People often assume that organizations won’t actually contact references, and will put any contact down — regardless of how good or bad the interaction was. So prove them wrong and contact all provided references.

Perform a background check.

After you’ve interviewed and checked references yourself, and everything seems to be in order, it’s time to work with a background screening provider to check their criminal record. There is no single database that contains every criminal record, so make sure to work with a provider who checks national, state and country records so that you don’t miss anything.

Does your organization need help screening volunteers?  Let’s talk!

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The mandatory background checks for volunteer coaches include nationwide search of sex offender registry data and other criminal records. This is for coaches and anyone involved in running the teams.

“No local league shall permit any person to participate in any manner whose background check reveals a conviction, guilty plea, no contest plea, or admission to any crime involving or against a minor or minors,” Little League said.

This announcement comes in conjunction with a host of new rules and eligibility requirements for players.

For more details, visit LittleLeague.org for more information.

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JDP will attend the annual TASPA summer conference this year. The conference will take place on July 15-17, 2015 in Austin, TX.  The sessions will focus on a variety of topics like:

• Privacy and social media

• Common employment myths

• Criminal history reviews

• Fingerprinting compliance

Many of the workshops and sessions will provide insight on how to keep students safe in a learning environment. With background check legislation changing frequently, this conference will provide updated information on education safety.

One of the issues the conference will address is rescreening employees. The Background Investigation Bureau (BIB) studied the pattern of arrests among teachers, coaches, and volunteers for the current year. You can join BIB as they discuss the results of their study on arrest trends. They will also provide rescreening tips and how to enhance safety with screening programs.

Safe and Sound Education

Background check companies help protect schools from negligent hiring. Background check legislation and requirements, however, differ between schools and businesses – which can make it complicated for schools to know how to comply with the law. Safe and Sound Education provides services specifically for schools and goes beyond the usual requirements. In addition to FBI fingerprinting and checking state records, Safe and Sound Education screens all records from the county level up through the federal level. At schools, annual background checks are important because even if an employee had a clean record when hired, anything can happen in a few years. Safe and Sound Education gives schools more time to focus on their students while we focus on all the rules and records.

For more information about education and safety, come find JDP at the Safe and Sound Education booth at the 2015 TASPA conference in Texas! Use #2015TASPAsummer to share your experiences from the conference!

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Requiring volunteers from your school, church, or nonprofit organization to get background checks will not deter them from participating. Many people, especially parents, have busy lives but a background check will not take much time. For dedicated volunteers, conducting a background screening check is only a small step towards helping with the cause.

Background Screening at Nonprofits

Nonprofits usually don’t require volunteers to submit to background checks. This makes them an easy target for criminals. People can falsify their identity and lie about their past unless you take the steps necessary to check up on them. Background checks will discourage the people with a questionable past from volunteering but not the ones who are actually dedicated and trustworthy. You should take any steps necessary to eliminate the risk of allowing a dangerous person into your organization.

Background Screening Checks for Parents

Increasingly, schools require parent volunteers to get background checks. At one school in Chicago, some parents were reluctant to allow their lives under the microscope. But, after one parent acknowledged a sex-abuse conviction from his past would prevent him from passing the screening check, many parents changed their minds. And in the end, “of the 318 parents who filled out forms, only four refused to provide social security numbers.” Parent volunteers are essential to most school functions and the added security step won’t prevent them from participating.

You can easily protect your school and your children by screening volunteers. JDP makes safety fast and easy with the Safe and Sound Education background screening services we provide. There are several benefits to using our Safe and Sound Education program. We can provide accurate, timely, and inexpensive services. You can access our full list of services and program details on our website.

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1. The law requires it.

In some situations, a background check may be required not just for employees at your organization, but also for your volunteers. If you work with children or the elderly, your state could require you to perform background screening checksbefore accepting your volunteers.

2. It builds trust inside your organization.

Just like in an office, background screening checks in a volunteer-based organization help build trust. By providing a mechanism to guarantee safety and encourage honesty, you’ll ensure that your volunteer groups trust each other and your organization.

3. You can screen for job-related shortcomings.

If you plan to have a volunteer drive a van or handle money, for example, you can use a background check to ensure that they’re qualified. A person who has a history of traffic violations may not be the best choice to drive, while a person who has theft-related charges on their background check might not be a good person to handle money. When you’re giving volunteers specific jobs, a background check can help you find patterns of negative behavior that may be related to these jobs.

4. You’ll ensure quality volunteers.

In some cases, you may wish to verify that your volunteer has the experience they may claim on an application or in an interview. For example, if you’re seeking out volunteer SAT tutors that have graduated from college, you may wish to screen to ensure that this is legitimate. While most volunteers are honest, you can help protect your organization’s image by double checking the information you’re given.

Of course, how you choose to vet your volunteers is up to you. We recommend looking for patterns, just as you would during the hiring process. In many cases, a single incident that occurred years ago may be in the past. However, a pattern of “bad behavior” may affect your volunteer’s behavior at your organization. Much like hiring an employee, you’ll want to take a look at problems that affect what the volunteer will be doing with your organization.

Do you screen your volunteers? Contact us to discuss how background checks could be a good fit for your volunteer organization!

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