Utilizing thorough background checks to protect at-risk populations should have already been the norm but it wasn’t. Recently several jurisdictions in the country are addressing this issue and are making new State and Federal regulations especially with daycare. Conducting criminal background checks on individuals that will have access to at-risk populations like children and the elderly is one big step in achieving safety for the vulnerable portion of the population in the USA.
The benefits of employment screening and background screening in general is protecting at-risk populations, such as the elderly and children, and everyone in-between. Caregivers of this portion of the population must be thoroughly vetted before given access to these people, it is a sure way to help avoid malfeasant individuals from abusing the at-risk population in this country.
Background screening when conducted in a fair and equitable manner, one that is nondiscriminatory and lawful, can be a great risk mitigation tool. Background screening can verify information on resumes, provide details through the use of public records, and help hiring managers, for paid and unpaid positions, have greater information to make important decisions. Some places in this country are already addressing this issue:
In Buffalo, New York a caregiver facility is faced with the implementation of new regulations designed to further protect at-risk populations.
From WKBW.com (Oct. 28, 19):
New state and federal regulations are now in place for daycares around New York State, that bring daycare providers up to a more rigorous standard, protecting your children from potential predators. wkbw.com/news/i-team/new-background-checks-implemented-to-protect-kids-at-daycare
Enhancing background screening requirements is always a good idea, especially when protecting at-risk populations. Thorough background checks, ones that include a full array of screening reports like criminal history reports, can only improve risk management, and, further, mitigate that risk.
At the Buffalo facility one worker appears to agree with the direction law has taken.
From WKWB.com (Oct. 28, 19):
“It should have been implemented from the beginning,” … “There’s no reason that we weren’t checking a complete background history from state to state…but the benefit of it is, that we will have a complete background history and it’s important.” ibid
However, policies are only as good as how they are being fulfilled. Failure to follow policy can open the door to malfeasance and discrimination.
In Roselle, Illinois a football coach was removed once his past came to light. And it appears that policy was not followed and the coach was allowed to work with and amongst children.
From WGNTV.com (Nov. 07, 19):
The head football coach at Lake Park High School was removed from his coaching duties earlier this week after an investigation found a convicted sex offender was allowed to help coach the team.
Lake Park High School District 108 administration launched an investigation after it came to light that a volunteer varsity football coach was convicted of sexually abusing a minor in 1992. wgntv.com/2019/11/07/if-we-dont-condemn-it-we-condone-it-victim-of-volunteer-coachs-sexual-abuse-in-the-90s-speaks-out/
It is instances like this that remind everyone of how important it is to properly vet all individuals paid or not paid that are given access to at-risk populations like children. To help thwart malfeasance and to help prevent past offenders from striking again a thorough background screening program is certainly a best practice.
To read more about this subject read recent press release: Caregivers & Criminal History; Challenges to Protecting At-Risk Populations